Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
J Environ Public Health. 2021 Apr 15;2021:8853669. doi: 10.1155/2021/8853669. eCollection 2021.
The study explored fisherfolk's perception and attitude in regard to solid waste disposal and the implications of these for public health, aquatic resources, and sustainable development (SD) in a Ghanaian fishing community. Qualitative data were obtained from 37 purposively targeted participants comprising 34 fisherfolk, an environmental health expert, a water and sanitation expert, and a fisheries and aquatic sciences expert through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analysed thematically guided by the most significant stories. While the fisherfolk perceived waste as useless and a nuisance, the experts saw it as a nuisance and/or resource. The fisherfolk did not sort their waste in line with best practices, nor were they willing to pay for waste collection services, citing poverty as the main reason. While most fisherfolk disposed of their waste into bins as approved, others did so onto the street, into the drains, lagoon, and sea. While the fisherfolk were aware that indiscriminate waste disposal led to diseases such as malaria and cholera, their perceptions of the effect of the same on aquatic resources were mixed. The fisherfolk's conception and perception of waste led to attitudes, behaviours, and practices that polluted the environment (air, land, and water resources), resulting in public health challenges, a threat to navigation, fish population, and other biodiversity, which were inimical to livelihoods and sustainable development. The government and municipal authority should collaborate with the experts in environmental health, water and sanitation, fisheries and aquatic sciences, and traditional authorities to sensitise the fisherfolk on the sustainability implications of unapproved solid waste disposal practices to change their attitude for the better. They should also provide more waste disposal infrastructure and enforce the laws to ensure compliance with best practice for sustainable development. The study supports the compatibility and mutuality between Sustainable Development (SDG) 6 on water, sanitation, and hygiene and SDG 14 regarding sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
本研究探讨了加纳一个渔村的渔民对固体废物处理的看法和态度，以及这些看法和态度对公共卫生、水生资源和可持续发展（SD）的影响。通过深入访谈和焦点小组讨论，从 37 名有针对性的参与者（包括 34 名渔民、一名环境卫生专家、一名水和卫生专家以及一名渔业和水生科学专家）中获得了定性数据。数据分析采用了最显著故事的主题分析方法。渔民认为废物无用且令人讨厌，而专家则认为废物是一种麻烦和/或资源。渔民没有按照最佳实践对废物进行分类，也不愿意为废物收集服务付费，他们将贫困作为主要原因。虽然大多数渔民按照批准的方式将废物扔进垃圾桶，但其他人则将废物扔到街上、排水渠、泻湖和海洋中。虽然渔民知道随意丢弃废物会导致疟疾和霍乱等疾病，但他们对同样对水生资源的影响的看法是混合的。渔民对废物的概念和看法导致了污染环境（空气、土地和水资源）的态度、行为和做法，从而导致公共卫生挑战、对航行、鱼类种群和其他生物多样性的威胁，这对生计和可持续发展不利。政府和市当局应与环境卫生、水和卫生、渔业和水生科学以及传统当局的专家合作，提高渔民对未经批准的固体废物处理做法对可持续性影响的认识，以改善他们的态度。他们还应提供更多的废物处理基础设施，并执行法律，以确保遵守最佳实践，实现可持续发展。该研究支持可持续发展目标 6（水、环境卫生和个人卫生）和可持续发展目标 14（海洋、海洋和海洋资源的可持续利用）之间的兼容性和相互性。
