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Environmental Noise, Modes of Hearing Conservation, Auditory Performance and Productivity Among Market Women In Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of environmental noise on market women, the level of awareness of the dangers of noise by the market women, and the modes of hearing conservation available in the sampled markets. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select six markets (Bodija, Ogunpa, Sango, Dugbe, Mokola and Ojoo) sampled within the Ibadan metropolis, and two hundred and fifty market women were respondents for the study. Three (3) research questions were raised and answered. Influence of Environmental noise on the auditory performance and productivity of the market women research scale (r=0.86) was used to collect the data. Frequency counts and percentages were employed to analyse the data generated. The findings revealed that there are obvious effects of the exposure to noise among the market women ranging from hearing loss and general cognitive impairment to physiological problems including headache, hypertension and inability to sleep at night. Findings also revealed that the majority of the women are aware of the dangers of exposure to excessive noise but were only careless and that no tangible measures were put in place towards hearing conservation by preventing excessive noise. In the light of the foregoing, the paper recommended among others that the market women should endeavour to preserve their hearing through the use of appropriate hearing preservation protocols, and the management of the market should ensure compliance with noise pollution regulatory laws.

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