LOCATIONAL TRAITS OF PUBLIC EATING HOUSES IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Location is one of the determinants of food hygiene, particularly in urban areas where makeshift structures housing many public eating houses (PEH) provide abode for urban dwellers. Recent studies have evaluated gender and operational approach of PEH, with paucity of information on the locational attributes of PEH. This study investigates the nature and attributes of locations of PEH, including the factors influencing spatial distribution and its implications on the local environment. Data on location of PEH in Ibadan North were obtained using Snowballing. A total of 204 PEH were identified and questionnaire containing attributes of interest was administered to all. Prevailing activities (commercial, industrial and educational), and proximity to customers were among the major factors that influenced location of PEH. Majority (75.5%) of the PEH were owned by females and 56.7% were built with brick. Analysis revealed that the higher the rent, the higher the use of better building materials. About 65.2% of PEH did not conform to planning standard of maintaining adequate setbacks from the road and adjoining land uses. Majority 76.4% of the PEH lacked basic supporting facilities such as bore holes and toilets for customers. Traffic congestion, lack of aesthetical structures among others were the effect of the food vendors’ locations on the urban environment. The spatial distribution of food vending locations was clustered with R-value lesser than 1 (0.435265, z-score = -15.430890 at p-value <0.05). The effects of the challenges posed on the urban environment require both short- and long-term measures by the government using an inclusive planning approach. This will allow for the involvement of food vendors in the planning process for sustainable development