Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October-December | Volume: 5 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 447-452
An Investigation into the Relationship between Sanitation Practices and Water-Borne Enteric Diseases in Ihechiowa Community, Arochukwu, Southeastern Nigeria
Okereke, E.E.1, Amadi, C.O.A.2, Iro, O.K.3, Obasi, K.O.1, Azuamah, Y.C.4, Iwuoha, G.N.2, Igwe, C.N.5, Amadi, A.N.2
1Department of Environmental Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
2Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
3Department of Environmental Health Science, Abia state University Uturu, Nigeria
4Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
5Department of Public Health, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Okereke, E.E.
ABSTRACT
Universal, affordable and sustainable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a key public health issue. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between sanitation practices and occurrence of water-borne enteric diseases among residents in Ihechiowa community, Arochukwu L.G.A., Southeastern Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross sectional study to investigate the sanitation practices and occurrence of water-borne enteric diseases in Ihechiowa community, Arochukwu, Southeastern, Nigeria. The multistage sampling technique was adopted to select samples for the study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to interview the subjects and obtain data for the study. Data was uploaded into the SPSS version 23 software and the Chi-square was used to test for association at 5% level of significance. All subjects used for this study gave an informed consent to be part of the study. A total of 242 subjects were used for this study. The water-borne enteric diseases identified among the respondents in the study area include diarrhoea (20.4%), typhoid fever (50.0%), dysentery (1.4%) and cholera (28.2%). There was a significant relationship [P (0.015) < 0.05] with the type of latrine used and the presence of water-borne enteric diseases. There was also a significant relationship [P (0.001) < 0.05] with the material used for anal cleansing and the presence of water-borne enteric diseases. Further investigations revealed that hand washing after toilet use had a significant relationship [P (0.015) < 0.05] with the presence of water-borne enteric diseases. In conclusion, sanitation practices were found to be associated with water-borne enteric diseases. Health promotion and awareness campaigns on water, sanitation and hygiene were recommended.
Keywords: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Water-borne, Enteric diseases.