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The Counterfeit Petrol Business in Benin and Associated Health Consequences Among Stakeholders

Received: 4 September 2020     Accepted: 17 September 2020     Published: 25 September 2020
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Abstract

In Benin counterfeit fuel is sold across the country, but the health consequences associated with this activity are not documented. The present study was conducted to describe the specificities of this business in a representative municipality of Southern Benin and to identify its health-related consequences as perceived by the vendors. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey in 160 vendors of counterfeit petrol in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. The data were analyzed with SAS software and the proportions were compared two by two with the two-tailed Z test. The findings reveal that the trade of counterfeit petrol involves as many men (53%) as women (47%). The vendors have an average of 10.14 years of experience in the business. The conditions for practicing the profession are not optimal. Vendors store their fuel at the point of sale and they work more than 8 hours a day. Most of the respondents sold petrol at less than 400 F CFA (97.47%). At this price, most of them (51.27%) made a daily profit between 1000 and 5000 F CFA per day. Despite this daily profit, most of the respondents (73.20%) wish to change their profession because of the perceived health hazards that can be caused by prolonged exposure to petrol. Most vendors said to experience fatigue (82.76%), headache (66.21%), dizziness (60.69%) and skin irritations (51.03%). Moreover, respiratory symptoms were reported by the respondents including mainly sneezing (69.92%), stuffed nose (68.42%), loss of smell (55.64%), episodes of rhinorrhea (53.38%) and throat irritations (51.88%). The proportions of people reporting sneezing and stuffy nose were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the other categories. Despite these health risks, very few of them seek medical care when ill. A spatial distribution of vendors based on symptoms generated three main categories. The 1st group is composed of vendors from Glo-Djibé, Hèvié and Kpanroun. Those of group 2 are located in Akassato and Zinvié; while vendors from Godomey, Calavi, Togba and Ouédo made the last group. Frequently reported symptoms were dizziness, irritation of the eyes and loss of smell in the 1st group; episodes of rhinorrhea and irritation of the throat in group 2. Most symptoms reported in group 3 were headache, fatigue, lower back pain, stuffy nose and dental problems. Although the counterfeit petrol business generates interesting profits to traders, the associated hazards are enormous, hence the need to improve the technical and safety conditions of this sector.

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 6, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15
Page(s) 268-279
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), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Counterfeit Fuel, Health Impact, Respiratory Symptoms, Benin

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    Gbankoto Mamatou, Gbaguidi Ahotondji Bertin, Dotché Ogoudanan Ignace, Biaou Olivier, Youssao Abdou Karim Alassane, et al. (2020). The Counterfeit Petrol Business in Benin and Associated Health Consequences Among Stakeholders. Central African Journal of Public Health, 6(5), 268-279. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15

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    ACS Style

    Gbankoto Mamatou; Gbaguidi Ahotondji Bertin; Dotché Ogoudanan Ignace; Biaou Olivier; Youssao Abdou Karim Alassane, et al. The Counterfeit Petrol Business in Benin and Associated Health Consequences Among Stakeholders. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2020, 6(5), 268-279. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15

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    AMA Style

    Gbankoto Mamatou, Gbaguidi Ahotondji Bertin, Dotché Ogoudanan Ignace, Biaou Olivier, Youssao Abdou Karim Alassane, et al. The Counterfeit Petrol Business in Benin and Associated Health Consequences Among Stakeholders. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2020;6(5):268-279. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15,
      author = {Gbankoto Mamatou and Gbaguidi Ahotondji Bertin and Dotché Ogoudanan Ignace and Biaou Olivier and Youssao Abdou Karim Alassane and Akpovi Dêwanou Casimir and Youssao Abdou Karim Issaka},
      title = {The Counterfeit Petrol Business in Benin and Associated Health Consequences Among Stakeholders},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {6},
      number = {5},
      pages = {268-279},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20200605.15},
      abstract = {In Benin counterfeit fuel is sold across the country, but the health consequences associated with this activity are not documented. The present study was conducted to describe the specificities of this business in a representative municipality of Southern Benin and to identify its health-related consequences as perceived by the vendors. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey in 160 vendors of counterfeit petrol in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. The data were analyzed with SAS software and the proportions were compared two by two with the two-tailed Z test. The findings reveal that the trade of counterfeit petrol involves as many men (53%) as women (47%). The vendors have an average of 10.14 years of experience in the business. The conditions for practicing the profession are not optimal. Vendors store their fuel at the point of sale and they work more than 8 hours a day. Most of the respondents sold petrol at less than 400 F CFA (97.47%). At this price, most of them (51.27%) made a daily profit between 1000 and 5000 F CFA per day. Despite this daily profit, most of the respondents (73.20%) wish to change their profession because of the perceived health hazards that can be caused by prolonged exposure to petrol. Most vendors said to experience fatigue (82.76%), headache (66.21%), dizziness (60.69%) and skin irritations (51.03%). Moreover, respiratory symptoms were reported by the respondents including mainly sneezing (69.92%), stuffed nose (68.42%), loss of smell (55.64%), episodes of rhinorrhea (53.38%) and throat irritations (51.88%). The proportions of people reporting sneezing and stuffy nose were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the other categories. Despite these health risks, very few of them seek medical care when ill. A spatial distribution of vendors based on symptoms generated three main categories. The 1st group is composed of vendors from Glo-Djibé, Hèvié and Kpanroun. Those of group 2 are located in Akassato and Zinvié; while vendors from Godomey, Calavi, Togba and Ouédo made the last group. Frequently reported symptoms were dizziness, irritation of the eyes and loss of smell in the 1st group; episodes of rhinorrhea and irritation of the throat in group 2. Most symptoms reported in group 3 were headache, fatigue, lower back pain, stuffy nose and dental problems. Although the counterfeit petrol business generates interesting profits to traders, the associated hazards are enormous, hence the need to improve the technical and safety conditions of this sector.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Counterfeit Petrol Business in Benin and Associated Health Consequences Among Stakeholders
    AU  - Gbankoto Mamatou
    AU  - Gbaguidi Ahotondji Bertin
    AU  - Dotché Ogoudanan Ignace
    AU  - Biaou Olivier
    AU  - Youssao Abdou Karim Alassane
    AU  - Akpovi Dêwanou Casimir
    AU  - Youssao Abdou Karim Issaka
    Y1  - 2020/09/25
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15
    T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 268
    EP  - 279
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5781
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.15
    AB  - In Benin counterfeit fuel is sold across the country, but the health consequences associated with this activity are not documented. The present study was conducted to describe the specificities of this business in a representative municipality of Southern Benin and to identify its health-related consequences as perceived by the vendors. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey in 160 vendors of counterfeit petrol in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. The data were analyzed with SAS software and the proportions were compared two by two with the two-tailed Z test. The findings reveal that the trade of counterfeit petrol involves as many men (53%) as women (47%). The vendors have an average of 10.14 years of experience in the business. The conditions for practicing the profession are not optimal. Vendors store their fuel at the point of sale and they work more than 8 hours a day. Most of the respondents sold petrol at less than 400 F CFA (97.47%). At this price, most of them (51.27%) made a daily profit between 1000 and 5000 F CFA per day. Despite this daily profit, most of the respondents (73.20%) wish to change their profession because of the perceived health hazards that can be caused by prolonged exposure to petrol. Most vendors said to experience fatigue (82.76%), headache (66.21%), dizziness (60.69%) and skin irritations (51.03%). Moreover, respiratory symptoms were reported by the respondents including mainly sneezing (69.92%), stuffed nose (68.42%), loss of smell (55.64%), episodes of rhinorrhea (53.38%) and throat irritations (51.88%). The proportions of people reporting sneezing and stuffy nose were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the other categories. Despite these health risks, very few of them seek medical care when ill. A spatial distribution of vendors based on symptoms generated three main categories. The 1st group is composed of vendors from Glo-Djibé, Hèvié and Kpanroun. Those of group 2 are located in Akassato and Zinvié; while vendors from Godomey, Calavi, Togba and Ouédo made the last group. Frequently reported symptoms were dizziness, irritation of the eyes and loss of smell in the 1st group; episodes of rhinorrhea and irritation of the throat in group 2. Most symptoms reported in group 3 were headache, fatigue, lower back pain, stuffy nose and dental problems. Although the counterfeit petrol business generates interesting profits to traders, the associated hazards are enormous, hence the need to improve the technical and safety conditions of this sector.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Medical Imaging Engineering and Radiobiology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Department of Medical Imaging Engineering and Radiobiology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin

  • Medical Imaging Unit, National Hospital and University center H. K. Maga, Cotonou, Benin

  • Department of Chemical Engineering – Processes, University of Abomey-Calavi, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin

  • Department of Medical Imaging Engineering and Radiobiology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Department of Medical Imaging Engineering and Radiobiology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

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