Occupational Health Practices Among Street Food Vendors in Port Harcourt Metropolis

Street food vending is a significant livelihood activity in Nigerian urban areas, yet the occupational health risks faced by vendors remain poorly characterized and inadequately addressed by public health authorities. This study assessed occupational health practices and associated risk factors among street food vendors in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, with 175 vendors recruited through systematic sampling across major vending hotspots. A pre-tested structured questionnaire assessed food safety practices, personal hygiene, occupational hazard awareness, and health-seeking behaviors. Findings revealed that hand washing compliance before food preparation was observed in only 29.1 percent of vendors, and appropriate waste disposal practices were absent in 71.4 percent of vending sites. Burn injuries from cooking equipment were reported by 54.9 percent of respondents, while musculoskeletal pain from prolonged standing was experienced by 68.6 percent. Exposure to vehicular emissions and particulate matter from open-air cooking was an unrecognized hazard for 88.6 percent of participants. Access to formal occupational or primary healthcare was very limited, with 76 percent using patent medicine dealers as first-line care. The study recommends community health outreach targeting vendors, development of certified vendor health and hygiene training programs, and integration of street food vendor welfare into Port Harcourt's urban health planning framework. Keywords: street food vendors, occupational health, food safety, urban health, Port Harcourt.