Statistical Analysis of Artisanal Mining Practices and Occupational Health Risks in Anka Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.219Keywords:
Artisanal mining, Occupational health, Risk factors, Anka LGA, Statistical analysisAbstract
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a major livelihood activity in Anka Local Government Area (LGA), Zamfara State, Nigeria, but it poses significant occupational health risks. This study aimed to assess artisanal mining practices and determine their association with respiratory and musculoskeletal health outcomes among miners in Anka LGA. A cross-sectional design was employed involving 120 artisanal miners using structured questionnaires and observational assessments. Most respondents were male (90.0%) and aged 18–45 years (86.7%), with over two-thirds having at least two years of mining experience. Mining activities were predominantly dust-intensive, particularly crushing and grinding (44.2%), while personal protective equipment (PPE) use was generally low, with 52.5% reporting no PPE use. Respiratory symptoms were reported by 55.8% of miners, with chronic cough (48.3%) and wheezing (38.3%) being the most common. Musculoskeletal complaints were reported by 65.0% of respondents, with back pain (60.0%) and joint pain (53.3%) predominating. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses identified key occupational risk factors. Working more than eight hours per day, engagement in crushing and grinding activities, heavy manual lifting, and non-use of PPE significantly increased the odds of respiratory and musculoskeletal symptoms (p < 0.05). Model diagnostics indicated good fit, with Hosmer–Lemeshow p-values of 0.634 and 0.709 for the respiratory and musculoskeletal models, respectively, and no evidence of multicollinearity. The findings highlight the need for interventions promoting PPE use, regulating working hours, mechanizing dust-intensive tasks, and providing ergonomic training to reduce occupational health risks among artisanal miners.
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