OPEN DEFECATION PRACTICES IN RURAL AREAS THREAT PUBLIC HEALTH: AN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the level of open defecation amongst inhabitants in a rural area of Wurno local government, Sokoto state, Nigeria. The study design utilized in this work was cross-sectional survey was applied for this study to gather information of the participants and their environment with the aid of structured questionnaires at a given time. The collected information was subjected to descriptive statistics and X2 test at p<.05. The results reveal, majority of the participants (77.8%) are into open defecation; minority (22.2%) always do it. 77.8% of them always practice it, 11.1% never had open defecation, and 11.1% often do it. Majority (77.8%) had untidy toilets, minority (22.2%) had clean latrines.72.2% that is majority of the toilets in the area had no water supply, and minority (27.8%) of them had water. Toilets are shared by 9 people (72.2%) mostly, then 12 individuals (16.7%), and lastly by 8 persons (11.1%). Hoverer, majority (72.2%) of the respondents do not wash hands with soap after toilet (because there was no soap in their toilets); and minority had use of soap after toilet (27.8%). All the respondents agreed to burning of their waste materials (100.0%). Mostly open defecation is due to insufficient toilets (36.1%), then poor awareness (32.2%) and, poverty (31.7%). There was stool in the area (180.0%) and two defecators seen during the early morning visits (76.1%), 5 and above defecators were seen (12.8%), and only one person was seen (11.1%). On the type of defecators, children (51.1%) are the most, then adolescents (48.9%). Mostly, defecators are males (51.1%), are significant of portion of the defecators are females (48.9%). Open defecation is great threat to public health especially in regions that are rural settings. Sokoto has vast area that consist of rural areas that are into open defecation and suffer from their effects as indicated by this study. It has shown that, there are poor characteristics of the rural inhabitants, and open defecation is a major thing. Among many factors, poverty, lack of toilets, poor education or awareness among the core determinants that motivates open defecation in rural area of Sokoto state, Nigeria. It is noteworthy, that there are also poor Parameters of water, sanitation, and hygiene in the area.

Keywords

• Open defecation
• water supply
• rural
• diseases
• malnutrition
• polio

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