Chukwumah, Onyinye Theresa2026-05-102026-05-102026-01Chukwumah, O. T. (2026). Occupational hazards associated with catering profession: A case study of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeriahttps://repository.futo.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14562/2732This thesis is for the award of Master of Public Health (MPH) in Public HealthThe catering industry is associated with high levels of work-related injuries and diseases due to exposure to various occupational hazards. This study assessed the occupational hazards associated with caterers in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and thirty-nine (139) caterers were sampled for the study. Most of the respondents were female 84 (60.4%), while 46% were between the ages of 13–24 years. Sixty-two percent had worked for one to five years in either hotels (65.4%) or fast-food restaurants (34.5%). Half of the respondents (50%) had secondary education, while 43.2% had tertiary education. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the study. Nnewi North is stratified into four zones namely: Otolo, Nnewichi, Uruagwu and Umudim. Hotels and restaurants were further stratified into three categories: three/four-star hotels (mid-range service), one/two-star hotels (budget/limited service), and fast-food restaurants. Systematic random sampling was used to select establishments from each category, while simple random sampling was used to select two participants (chefs/bakers and stewards/waiters) from each establishment. The findings revealed that caterers in Nnewi North Local Government Area had a significant level of knowledge about occupational hazards and safety practices. Eighty-two percent of the respondents reported having the required personal protective equipment, including protective clothing (41.3%), hand gloves (27.1%), and footwear (23.4%). However, some caterers did not adhere to specific work procedures due to pressure to complete tasks(50.0%) and lack of interest in using protective measures (35.4%). Additionally, 73% reported that work pressure affects their safety culture, while 78% were not satisfied with the health and safety practices in their workplaces. The study also revealed a significant (p<0.05) positive attitude of caterers toward occupational hazard prevention and adherence to safety practices. Further research is recommended to determine the major causes of work-related injuries and diseases in the catering industry in Nnewi North Local Government Area to support the development of effective occupational health and safety management system.enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalOccupational hazardscatererssafety practicesfood service workerspersonal protective equipmentDepartment of Public Healthoccupational healthMaster’s Thesis