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Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Work-Related Health Problems and Health Seeking Behaviour of Battery Technicians and Office Workers in Western Nigeria: A Comparative Study

Ebenezer Adeiza Ozomata*,  Blossom Adaeze Maduafokwa,  Emmanuel Friday Osagiede,  Uzoamaka Allena Igwilo,  Opeyemi Giwa
Published in Frontiers (Volume 5, Issue 4)
Received: 5 November 2025     Accepted: 19 November 2025     Published: 17 December 2025
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Abstract

Battery technicians are exposed to work-related health risks, and their health-seeking behavior plays a critical role in determining health outcomes. This study assessed work-related health problems and health-seeking behaviors among battery technicians and office workers in Lagos State. A cross-sectional design was employed using multi-stage sampling and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20, and results were presented in tables. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine significance at p ≤ 0.05. Battery technicians reported significantly higher rates of memory loss, drowsiness, limb numbness, constipation, and easy fatigability, as well as skin itching, breathing difficulty, sneezing, and runny nose, compared to office workers. Conversely, cough was more common among office workers. Health-seeking behaviors also differed: battery technicians were more likely to rely on chemist shops and self-medication than formal health facilities, a difference that was statistically significant. Memory loss was positively associated with years of work among technicians, while limb numbness was negatively associated with daily working hours of office workers. Easy fatigability was inversely related to technicians’ monthly income, and skin redness was negatively associated with years of work. Sneezing showed mixed associations, being negatively related to technicians’ income and office workers’ years of service but positively associated with technicians’ years of work. These findings underscore the need for targeted occupational health education, regular training, and improved access to qualified healthcare services for battery technicians. Strengthening workplace safety and promoting healthier health-seeking behaviors are essential for safeguarding this vulnerable workforce.

Published in Frontiers (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14
Page(s) 183-192
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group
Previous article
Keywords

Battery Technicians, Occupational Health, Health-seeking Behavior, Work-related Problems

1. Introduction
Health problems are strongly associated with lead battery repair and recycling in Nigeria. Lead is a highly toxic metal with multi-systemic effects, even at very low levels of exposure, and is recognized as one of the most significant occupational hazards in developing countries. Its toxicity spans multiple organ systems, affecting the cardiovascular, nervous, urinary, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and hematopoietic systems.
[1, 2]
Documented symptoms and complications include abdominal colic, anemia, seizures, encephalopathy, impaired balance, dementia, hypertension, stroke, nephropathy, hyperuricemia, and gout. Reproductive effects such as reduced sperm count and increased abnormalities in sperm morphology have also been linked to elevated blood lead levels.
[2-7]
For battery technicians, chronic exposure to lead poses substantial risks of multi-systemic disease, resulting not only in ill-health but also in frequent sickness absence, reduced productivity, financial losses from treatment costs, and diminished overall quality of life.
[8]
Health-seeking behavior plays a crucial role in how these health risks are managed.
The Health Belief Model (HBM), a widely applied framework for predicting health-seeking behavior, emphasized that an individual’s health actions are influenced by the perception of severity and susceptibility to a health outcome, availability of intervention, the benefits of taking action outweighs the barriers and self-efficacy (ability to carry out such interventions)
[8]
In essence, individuals weigh alternative choices and are more likely to adopt behaviors they believe will produce beneficial health outcomes. In Nigeria, a previous study showed that artisans demonstrated poor health-seeking behavior due to distantly located health facilities (except for injury cases), with majority turning to pharmacies or patent medicine vendors instead of hospitals or qualified health professionals
[9]
. Another study revealed that majority attended health facilities though located within walking distance.
[10]
The major difference between these study populations being the level of education directly associated with hospital visitation.
[9
, 10] Another study also revealed that delay in access health care contributed towards artisans poor health seeking behaviour.
[11]
Against this backdrop, this study was designed to assess and compare work-related health problems and health-seeking behavior among battery technicians and office workers in Lagos, Nigeria. The findings aim to provide insights into occupational health risks, behavioral determinants of healthcare utilization, and policy directions to improve workplace safety and health outcomes for vulnerable worker populations.
2. Methodology
2.1. Study Setting and Design
This study was conducted in Lagos State, Nigeria, which lies approximately between longitudes 2°42′E and 3°42′E and latitudes 6°22′N and 6°52′N.
[12]
Battery technicians in Lagos typically operate in informal roadside workshops, with more than 5,000 registered members under the Nigerian Association of Battery Technicians. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to assess and compare work-related health problems and health-seeking behavior among battery technicians and local government office workers in Lagos State. The study population comprised battery technicians registered with the association and local government office workers. Eligible participants were those who had been engaged in their current occupation for at least one year. Workers who were acutely ill, absent at the time of the study, or female (as the battery technician workforce was overwhelmingly male) were excluded from participation.
2.2. Sampling Methodology
The sample size was calculated using the formula for comparing two proportions in two equally sized groups, with the level of significance (α) set at 5% and power (1 − β) at 80%: n = (Zα + Zβ)2 [P1(100 − P1) + P2(100 − P2)] / (P1 − P2)2.
[13, 14]
This yielded a minimum sample size of 103 participants per group. To account for potential non-response, a 20% adjustment was applied, resulting in a revised minimum of 124 participants per group. Ultimately, 150 battery technicians and 150 office workers were recruited to ensure adequate power. A multistage sampling technique was used. First, two areas (each comprising clusters of local government areas where battery technicians were concentrated) were selected from the nine designated operational zones of the Nigerian Association of Battery Technicians using simple random sampling (balloting). Second, within each selected area, branches of technician workshops were randomly chosen. Eligible technicians within the selected branches were then recruited consecutively until the required sample size was obtained. For the comparison group, an equal number of office workers were enrolled from local government secretariats located within the same selected areas. Eligible office workers who met the inclusion criteria were recruited using simple random sampling to ensure comparability between both groups.
2.3. Data Collection and Analysis
Data were collected from each respondent using interviewer-administered questionnaires, facilitated by four trained research assistants. The questionnaires were adopted from previous studies
[1, 7, 15]
and pretested among a similar population in another local government area to ensure clarity and validity. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20. Continuous variables were presented as means with standard deviations, while categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and proportions. Bivariate analysis to compare proportions was performed using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, with the level of statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Confounding was minimized at the design stage by restricting the sample to male battery technicians, thereby reducing gender-related variability in occupational exposures. At the analysis stage, multivariable statistical methods were used to adjust for key confounders such as age, income, and years of work to obtain more robust comparisons between groups.
2.4. Ethical Approval
The approval to carry out this study was obtained from Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos with reference number of approval: ADM/DCST/HREC/APP/759. Permission was also obtained from the Nigerian Battery Technician Association. All data were secured and made available only to the members of the research team. The study strictly adhered to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, including respect for persons, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. All data were anonymized and used solely for research purposes.
Consent to Participate
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before enrollment in the study. Participants were provided with clear information about the study objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits, and were informed of their right to withdraw at any time without penalty. Consent was documented by signed forms, and for respondents with limited literacy, the forms were read aloud in their preferred language before verbal or thumbprint consent was taken in the presence of a witness. Confidentiality was ensured by anonymizing responses, and data were used strictly for research purposes.
3. Results
Data were successfully collected from all participants, comprising 150 battery technicians and 150 office workers, with complete responses obtained from both groups. Table 1 shows that only 4.7% of battery technicians had completed tertiary education compared to 29.3% of office workers, a difference that was statistically significant (p < 0.082). The majority of battery technicians (66.7%) practiced Islam compared to 42.7% of office workers, and this difference was highly significant (p < 0.001). Income distribution between both groups also differed significantly (p = 0.021). Although 38% of workers in each group earned between ₦18,000.00 and ₦37,999.00 monthly, only 2.0% of battery technicians earned ₦58,000–77,999 compared to 8.0% of office workers. Table 2 shows that memory loss was significantly more common among battery technicians (37.3%) than office workers (14.0%). Similarly, drowsiness (45.3% vs. 30.7%), limb numbness (55.3% vs. 40.0%), difficulty in passing stools (21.3% vs. 12.7%; p = 0.046), and easy fatigability (48.7% vs. 25.3%; p < 0.001) were significantly more prevalent among battery technicians. Skin itching was also higher among technicians (26.0%) than office workers (14.0%; p < 0.05). In contrast, cough was significantly higher among office workers (34.0%) than technicians (22.0%). Breathing difficulty, sneezing, and running nose were more frequently reported by battery technicians.
Table 3 indicates that 41.7% of battery technicians with more than 10 years’ experience reported memory loss compared to 22.9% with fewer years, a significant association (p = 0.043). Limb numbness was more common among those working ≤8 hours daily (69.8%) compared to those working >8 hours (49.5%; p = 0.024). Among office workers, difficulty in passing stools was significantly higher in those aged ≥60 years (36.4%) compared to <40 years (4.9%; p = 0.021). Easy fatigability was significantly more frequent among battery technicians earning <₦18,000 (61.1%) compared to higher earners (41.1%; p = 0.022). Skin redness was significantly associated with age among office workers (27.3% in ≥60 years vs. 2.4% in <40 years; p = 0.016) and with years of work among battery technicians (14.3% in ≤10 years vs. 4.3% in >10 years; p = 0.039). Sneezing was more common in battery technicians with >10 years of work (67.8%) compared to ≤10 years (48.6%; p = 0.038). A similar association was observed among office workers, with sneezing reported more frequently in those with ≤10 years’ work (48.6%) than those with >10 years (31.2%; p = 0.030). Table 4 reveals significant differences in health-seeking behavior. Most office workers (82%) utilized health facilities compared to 44.7% of battery technicians (p < 0.001) (Figure 1). Government-owned health facilities were more commonly patronized by office workers (60.0%) than technicians (28.7%; p < 0.001) (Figure 2). In contrast, about one-third of battery technicians (33.3%) patronized patent medicine vendors, compared to only 6.0% of office workers, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) (Figure 3).
Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.

Variables

Battery technicians (n=150)

Office workers (n=150)

Test stat

df

p

Age group (yrs)

21-30

17 (11.3)

10 (6.7)

31-40

47 (31.3)

38 (25.3)

41-50

49 (32.7)

61 (40.7)

χ2=8.26

4

0.082

51-60

20 (13.3)

31 (20.7)

>60

17 (11.3)

10 (6.7)

Mean ± SD

43.85±11.56

45.12±10.25

Marital status

Single

17 (11.3)

24 (16)

Married

126 (84.0)

122 (81.3)

3

0.111*

Divorced

1 (7.0)

3 (2.0)

Separated

6 (4.0)

1 (0.7)

Education

None

8 (5.3)

4 (2.7)

Primary

72 (48.0)

46 (30.7)

Secondary

63 (42.0)

56 (37.3)

χ2=21.53

3

<0.001º

Tertiary

7 (4.7)

44 (29.3)

Religion

Christianity

50 (33.3)

84 (56.0)

Islam

100 (66.7)

64 (42.7)

2

<0.001*º

Traditional

0 (0.0)

2 (1.3)

Monthly income

<18,00

54 (36.0)

33 (22.0)

18,000 – 37,999

57 (38.0)

57 (38.0)

38,000 – 57,999

32 (21.3)

42 (28.0)

5

0.021*º

58,000 – 77,999

3 (2.0)

12 (8.0)

78,000 – 97,999

2 (1.3)

4 (2.7)

>98,000

2 (1.3)

2 (1.3)
*Fisher’s exact p-value ºStatistical significant
Table 2. Self-reported general and organ-specific health problems of respondents.

General health problems

Battery workers (n=150)

Office worker (n=150)

χ2

df

p

Headache

96 (64.0)

98 (65.3)

0.058

1

0.809

Memory loss

56 (37.3)

21 (14.0)

21.402

1

<0.001º

Drowsiness

68 (45.3)

46 (30.7)

6.848

1

0.009º

Poor sleep

38 (25.3)

46 (30.7)

1.058

1

0.304

Limb numbness

83 (55.3)

60 (40.0)

7.069

1

0.008º

Abdominal discomfort

40 (26.7)

34 (22.7)

0.646

1

0.422

Difficulty in passing stools

32 (21.3)

19 (12.7)

3.992

1

0.046º

Urge to vomit

19 (12.7)

13 (8.7)

1.259

1

0.262

Loss of appetite

33 (22.0)

28 (18.7)

0.514

1

0.473

Easy fatigability

73 (48.7)

38 (25.3)

17.518

1

<0.001º

Joint pain

90 (60.0)

96 (64.0)

0.509

1

0.475

Decreased sex drive

53 (35.3)

40 (26.7)

2.634

1

0.105

Organ-specific problemsª

Skin

Rash

26 (17.3)

18 (12.0)

1.71

1

0.192

Itching

39 (26.0)

21 (14.0)

6.75

1

0.009º

Redness

10 (6.7)

9 (6.0)

0.81

1

0.560

Lungs

Cough

33 (22.0)

51 (34.0)

5.38

1

0.021º

Chest tightness

33 (22.0)

43 (28.7)

0.18

1

1.762

Breathing difficulty

22 (14.7)

9 (6.0)

6.08

1

0.014º

Nose

Sneezing

95 (63.3)

59 (39.3)

17.29

1

<0.001º

Nasal itching

20 (13.3)

20 (13.3)

0.00

1

1.000

Running nose

82 (54.7)

54 (36.0)

10.55

1

<0.001º

Eyes

Redness

57 (38.0)

46 (30.7)

1.79

1

0.181

Itching

42 (28.0)

43 (28.7)

0.02

1

0.898

Tearing

36 (24.0)

32 (21.3)

0.58

1

0.304
º Statistically significant
Table 3. Association between sociodemographic/occupational history of participants and health problems.

Memory loss

Battery Technician (n =150)

Office worker (n=150)

No (n=94)

Yes (n=56)

χ2

p

No (n=129)

Yes (n=21)

χ2

p

Age group (years)

<40

37 (67.3)

18 (32.7)

35 (85.4)

6 (14.6)

40-59

44 (57.1)

33 (42.9)

2.21

0.332

85 (86.7)

13 (13.3)

0.22

1.000*

≥60

13 (72.2)

5 (27.8)

9 (81.8)

2 (18.2)

Monthly income

<18,000.00

39 (72.2)

15 (27.8)

23 (79.3)

6 (20.7)

18,000 and above

55 (57.3)

41 (42.7)

3.29

0.070

106 (87.6)

15 (12.4)

1.34

0.248

Years of work

1-10

27 (77.1)

8 (22.9)

59 (84.3)

11 (15.7)

>10

67 (58.3)

48 (41.7)

4.09

0.043º

70 (87.5)

10 (12.5)

0.32

0.571

Daily work hours

0 -8

27 (62.8)

16 (37.2)

94 (88.7)

12 (11.3)

>8

67 (62.6)

40 (34.7)

0.00

0.980

35 (79.5)

9 (20.5)

2.15

0.142

Limb numbness

No (n=67)

Yes (n=83)

χ2

p

No (n=90)

Yes (n=60)

χ2

p

Age group (years)

<40

22 (40.0)

33 (60.0)

27 (65.9)

14 (34.1)

40-59

37 (48.1)

40 (51.9)

0.84

0.656

56 (57.1)

42 (42.9)

0.237*

≥60

8 (44.4)

10 (55.6)

7 (63.6)

4 (36.4)

Monthly income

<18,000.00

23 (42.6)

31 (57.4)

17 (58.6)

12 (41.4)

18,000 and above

44 (45.8)

52 (54.2)

0.15

0.702

73 (60.3)

48 (39.7)

0.03

0.866

Years of work

1-10

17 (48.6)

18 (51.4)

41 (58.6)

29 (41.4)

>10

50 (43.5)

65 (56.5)

0.28

0.596

49 (61.2)

31 (38.8)

0.11

0.596

Daily work hours

0 -8

13 (30.2)

30 (69.8)

66 (62.3)

40 (37.7)

>8

54 (50.5)

53 (49.5)

5.08

0.024º

24 (54.5)

20 (45.5)

0.77

0.380

Difficulty stooling

No (n=118)

Yes (n=32)

χ2

p

No (n=131)

Yes (n=19)

χ2

p

Age group (years)

<40

42 (76.4)

13 (23.6)

39 (95.1)

2 (4.9)

40-59

63 (81.8)

14 (18.2)

1.08

0.584

85 (18.7)

13 (18.2)

0.021*º

≥60

13 (72.2)

5 (27.8)

7 (63.6)

4 (36.4)

Monthly income

<18,000.00

42 (77.8)

12 (22.2)

23 (79.3)

6 (20.7)

18,000 and above

76 (79.2)

20 (20.8)

0.04

0.842

108 (89.3)

13 (10.7)

2.10

0.148

Years of work

1-10

26 (74.3)

9 (25.7)

65 (92.9)

5 (7.1)

>10

92 (80.0)

23 (20.0)

0.52

0.470

66 (82.5)

14 (17.5)

3.62

0.057

Daily work hours

0 -8

37 (86.0)

6 (14.0)

94 (88.7)

12 (11.3)

>8

81 (75.7)

26 (24.3)

1.96

0.162

37 (84.1)

7 (15.9)

0.59

0.442
* Fishers exact p value. Statistically significant
Table 4. Health seeking history of respondents.

Variable

Battery workers (n=150)

Office worker (n=150

χ2

df

P

Health services used when ill/injured ªª

Self –medication

45 (30.0)

48 (32.0)

0.14

1

0.708

Herbs

49 (32.7)

22 (14.7)

14.61

1

<0.001º

Chemist

60 (40.0)

34 (22.7)

11.34

1

<0.001º

Prayers

5 (3.3)

9 (6.0)

0.72

1

0.395

Health facility

69 (44.7)

123 (82.0)

42.19

1

<0.001º

Type of health facility used ª

Private

23 (15.3)

34 (22.7)

41.35

1

<0.001º

Government

43 (28.7)

90 (60.0)

43.46

1

<0.001º

Traditional healers’ home

3 (2.0)

7 (4.7)

40.97

1

<0.001º

Health personnel at/around workplaceª

Doctor

32 (21.3)

116 (77.3)

94.10

1

<0.001º

Nurse

16 (10.7)

27 (18.0)

3.29

1

0.070

Patent medicine vendor

50 (33.3)

9 (6.0)

34.47

1

<0.001º

Traditional healer

31 (20.7)

2 (1.3)

28.64

1

<0.001º

Experienced co-workers

4 (2.7)

7 (4.5)

0.85

1

0.357

None

31 (20.7)

0 (0.0)

34.57

1

<0.001º
ªMultiple responses allowed. º Statistically significant.
Figure 1. Health services used by respondents when ill/injured.
4. Discussion
The mean ages of the battery technicians and office workers were 43.85±11.56 and 45.12±10.25 years respectively. This was similar to the findings in studies carried out in Lagos, Nigeria
[2]
which revealed similar mean age of 43.6 + 10.5 and 40.5+ 7.6 years for battery technicians working in an organized wetting and road side workshops respectively; and 44.6 ± 10.5 and 41.8 ± 8.6 years for roadside and organized automobile technicians respectively.
[16]
About half of the battery technician’s population had primary education while 30.7% of the office workers acquired same level education in this present study. A study carried out in Ghana reported 31% percentage of automobile repair workers with primary school education
[17]
while a study carried out in Bangladesh largely had literate battery workers (78.0%) that had basic education.
[7]
Variations in primary education may reflect income, priorities, and culture. Most respondents had over 10 years’ work experience, implying prolonged hazard exposure, consistent with studies among mechanics in Nigeria and artisans in Ghana.
[11, 16]
In the year preceding the study, most battery technicians reported headaches, limb numbness, and joint pains, while headaches and joint pains were also common among office workers, likely due to sedentary routines, repetitive tasks, and poor ergonomics. Battery technicians faced additional ergonomic risks from lifting batteries and awkward postures during repairs. Symptoms such as memory loss, drowsiness, limb numbness, difficulty in passing stools, and easy fatigability were significantly higher among technicians. Similar findings were reported in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where headache, limb numbness, and colic pain were frequent among battery workers.
[7]
Findings align with studies from Iran, India, Pakistan, and Ethiopia, which similarly reported fatigue, arthralgia, headaches, gastrointestinal symptoms, and memory issues among battery workers. These symptoms may reflect lead exposure but could also be influenced by recall bias since they were self-reported.
[6, 15, 18]
Battery technicians reported sneezing, eye redness, skin itching, cough, and chest tightness -symptoms likely linked to irritation from lead fumes, the main entry route of lead into the body. These were significantly higher compared to office workers, consistent with findings from Karachi and Ghana that respiratory and eye problems are common among lead-exposed artisans.
[1, 19]
Years of work were positively associated with memory loss and sneezing but negatively with skin redness, reflecting exposure intensity, adaptation, or recall bias rather than causality. Daily working hours were negatively associated with limb numbness, while age correlated with constipation in technicians and skin redness in office workers, likely due to chronic exposure and age-related health changes.
[17]
Monthly income was negatively associated with fatigue, sneezing, and itchy eyes, possibly reflecting psychosomatic effects tied to job satisfaction. Health-seeking behavior was poor: only 44.7% of battery technicians sought care at health facilities, while many relied on chemists (40%) or self-medication (30%).
[19]
This aligns with Ghanaian studies and raises concerns, as unsafe remedies may worsen lead exposure or promote antibiotic resistance. Fewer than one-third consulted physicians compared to over two-thirds of office workers, underscoring a critical gap in professional healthcare utilization among battery technicians.
[20]
Limitations of the study
Study Limitations and Future Directions
This study has several limitations that should be considered when interpreting the findings. First, the cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between occupational exposure, reported health problems, and health-seeking behaviors. Second, data collection relied on self-reported information, which may be influenced by recall bias, underreporting, or overreporting of symptoms. The absence of objective biomarker assessments such as blood lead levels also restricts validation of self-reported health conditions and exposure intensity. Selection bias may have occurred, as participation was limited to battery technicians registered with the association and office workers available during the study period, potentially excluding informal or unregistered workers. Additionally, the study was conducted only in Lagos State, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other regions of Nigeria with different socio-economic and occupational contexts. Future research should include longitudinal or cohort studies to better understand causal pathways between occupational exposures and health outcomes among battery technicians. Incorporating biomarker validation (e.g., blood lead levels, urinary assays) would strengthen exposure assessment. Intervention-based studies are also recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational health education, regular medical screening, and policy enforcement in improving workplace safety and promoting healthier health-seeking behaviors among similar worker populations.
5. Conclusion
Most health problems were significantly more common among battery technicians than office workers, with the exception of cough, which was higher among office staff. A substantial proportion of battery technicians relied on chemists or self-medication, with only about one-third seeking care from health facilities. Strengthening health education, promoting positive health-seeking behavior, and providing incentives to encourage consultation with qualified health professionals are critical for improving outcomes in this group.
6. Recommendations
Given the significant burden of work-related health problems among battery technicians, targeted interventions are urgently needed. Health education programs should emphasize the dangers of lead exposure and promote positive health-seeking behavior, encouraging workers to consult qualified health professionals rather than rely on chemists or self-medication. Regular training on occupational safety practices, including the consistent use of personal protective equipment, should be made compulsory through collaboration between government agencies, professional associations, and employers. Policy makers should also strengthen regulatory oversight of informal workshops and provide accessible occupational health services tailored to the needs of battery technicians. In addition, periodic medical screening and biological monitoring of blood lead levels should be instituted to detect early signs of lead toxicity. Improving workplace infrastructure - such as ventilation, access to clean water, and hygienic facilities - will further reduce exposure risks. Finally, incentives and subsidies for protective devices could enhance compliance and sustainability of safety practices among this vulnerable workforce.
Abbreviations

Df

Degrees of Freedom

HBM

Health Belief Model

HREC

Health Research Ethics Committee

LUTH

Lagos University Teaching Hospital

NCDC

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

SPSS

Statistical Package for the Social Sciences

WHO

World Health Organization
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge Professor Adebayo T. Onajole of the Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, for his technical guidance and supervision of this work.
Author Contributions
Ebenezer Adeiza Ozomata: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Blossom Adaeze Maduafokwa: Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Emmanuel Friday Osagiede: Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Uzoamaka Allena Igwilo: Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing
Opeyemi Giwa: Data curation, Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing
Funding
This was a self-funded study.
Data Availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.
Conflicts Interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
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    Ozomata, E. A., Maduafokwa, B. A., Osagiede, E. F., Igwilo, U. A., Giwa, O. (2025). Work-Related Health Problems and Health Seeking Behaviour of Battery Technicians and Office Workers in Western Nigeria: A Comparative Study. Frontiers, 5(4), 183-192. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14

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    ACS Style

    Ozomata, E. A.; Maduafokwa, B. A.; Osagiede, E. F.; Igwilo, U. A.; Giwa, O. Work-Related Health Problems and Health Seeking Behaviour of Battery Technicians and Office Workers in Western Nigeria: A Comparative Study. Frontiers. 2025, 5(4), 183-192. doi: 10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14

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    AMA Style

    Ozomata EA, Maduafokwa BA, Osagiede EF, Igwilo UA, Giwa O. Work-Related Health Problems and Health Seeking Behaviour of Battery Technicians and Office Workers in Western Nigeria: A Comparative Study. Frontiers. 2025;5(4):183-192. doi: 10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14,
  author = {Ebenezer Adeiza Ozomata and Blossom Adaeze Maduafokwa and Emmanuel Friday Osagiede and Uzoamaka Allena Igwilo and Opeyemi Giwa},
  title = {Work-Related Health Problems and Health Seeking Behaviour of Battery Technicians and Office Workers in Western Nigeria: A Comparative Study},
  journal = {Frontiers},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {183-192},
  doi = {10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.frontiers.20250504.14},
  abstract = {Battery technicians are exposed to work-related health risks, and their health-seeking behavior plays a critical role in determining health outcomes. This study assessed work-related health problems and health-seeking behaviors among battery technicians and office workers in Lagos State. A cross-sectional design was employed using multi-stage sampling and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20, and results were presented in tables. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine significance at p ≤ 0.05. Battery technicians reported significantly higher rates of memory loss, drowsiness, limb numbness, constipation, and easy fatigability, as well as skin itching, breathing difficulty, sneezing, and runny nose, compared to office workers. Conversely, cough was more common among office workers. Health-seeking behaviors also differed: battery technicians were more likely to rely on chemist shops and self-medication than formal health facilities, a difference that was statistically significant. Memory loss was positively associated with years of work among technicians, while limb numbness was negatively associated with daily working hours of office workers. Easy fatigability was inversely related to technicians’ monthly income, and skin redness was negatively associated with years of work. Sneezing showed mixed associations, being negatively related to technicians’ income and office workers’ years of service but positively associated with technicians’ years of work. These findings underscore the need for targeted occupational health education, regular training, and improved access to qualified healthcare services for battery technicians. Strengthening workplace safety and promoting healthier health-seeking behaviors are essential for safeguarding this vulnerable workforce.},
 year = {2025}
}

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  • TY  - JOUR
T1  - Work-Related Health Problems and Health Seeking Behaviour of Battery Technicians and Office Workers in Western Nigeria: A Comparative Study
AU  - Ebenezer Adeiza Ozomata
AU  - Blossom Adaeze Maduafokwa
AU  - Emmanuel Friday Osagiede
AU  - Uzoamaka Allena Igwilo
AU  - Opeyemi Giwa
Y1  - 2025/12/17
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14
T2  - Frontiers
JF  - Frontiers
JO  - Frontiers
SP  - 183
EP  - 192
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7197
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.frontiers.20250504.14
AB  - Battery technicians are exposed to work-related health risks, and their health-seeking behavior plays a critical role in determining health outcomes. This study assessed work-related health problems and health-seeking behaviors among battery technicians and office workers in Lagos State. A cross-sectional design was employed using multi-stage sampling and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20, and results were presented in tables. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine significance at p ≤ 0.05. Battery technicians reported significantly higher rates of memory loss, drowsiness, limb numbness, constipation, and easy fatigability, as well as skin itching, breathing difficulty, sneezing, and runny nose, compared to office workers. Conversely, cough was more common among office workers. Health-seeking behaviors also differed: battery technicians were more likely to rely on chemist shops and self-medication than formal health facilities, a difference that was statistically significant. Memory loss was positively associated with years of work among technicians, while limb numbness was negatively associated with daily working hours of office workers. Easy fatigability was inversely related to technicians’ monthly income, and skin redness was negatively associated with years of work. Sneezing showed mixed associations, being negatively related to technicians’ income and office workers’ years of service but positively associated with technicians’ years of work. These findings underscore the need for targeted occupational health education, regular training, and improved access to qualified healthcare services for battery technicians. Strengthening workplace safety and promoting healthier health-seeking behaviors are essential for safeguarding this vulnerable workforce.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

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