Social, recreational and housing habits of residents of Selebi-Phikwe nickel – copper mining environment, Botswana

Abstract

This study presents a survey of the existing status of the social, recreational and housing habits related to the environmental health of residents living within the Selebi-Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana. Primary data of residents obtained through the administration of questionnaire and structured interviews was processed with the aid of the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The generated data depicted that the consumption of cigarettes, dagga, coffee, coke and alcohol were in general higher in sites close to where mining and smelting activities are carried out. Percentages of drinking and smoking of respondents living within the study areas close to the mining area were also higher than at the other parts of the study area. A wide range of physical exercises and hobbies are performed by the residents which do have a positive contributory effect to their health. However, low essential household facilities coupled with high densities per household for the areas close to the mine could be the enhancing factors of some of the negative health effects resulting from mining activities in Selebi-Phikwe.

Keywords: environmental health, housing habits, nickel-copper, social and recreational habits

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance Vol. 12 (3) 2006: 252-265