Abstract

The study determined rural women?s perception of market-related sharp practices in Kwara state, Nigeria. A total of 120 interview schedules were administered on rural market women and information were obtained on their personal characteristics, perceived common market-related sharp practices, perception of sharp practices and other factors perceived to influence perpetration of sharp practices among respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed in analyzing the data. Results reveal that majority were Muslims (62.5%), married (71.7%), had no formal education (51.7%), while 50.8% were food stuff sellers. The average age and household size were 42 years and 7 persons, respectively. Common sharp practices perceived to be perpetrated were use of wrong scale (94.2%), adjustment of measuring device (85.0%) and bagging of commodities with stones (80.8%). Although a large proportion (61.7%) of the respondents condemned sharp practices by their perceptions, several other factors such as lack of measurement standard (mean = 1.77), customers? ignorance of consequences (mean = 1.71), poor supervision by designated government agencies (mean = 1.66) and lack of fear of God (mean = 1.63) were perceived to account for high level of market-related sharp practices. Respondents? level of education (?2 = 9.404) and household size (r = -0.209) were significantly related to their perception of sharp practices. The study concluded that although respondents? perception of sharp practices was unfavourable, other non-behavioural factors may have forced the rural market women to engage in perpetration of such practices.

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