ASSESSEMENT OF SANITATION PRACTICES AND EFFECT ON HEALTH OF RESIDENTS OF LAGOS STATE

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study. Globally, poor environmental quality is widely acknowledged as a serious hazard to social and economic growth, and even human existence. As opined by Adeniyi (2024), environmental degradation has a greater influence on emerging nations like Nigeria, hindering and disrupting socioeconomic progress. Daramola and Olowoporoku, (2020) asserts that the living environment is heavily contaminated as a result of the societal misbehaviors of indiscriminate littering, incorrect household wastewater discharge, and inadequate sewage disposal which is a clears attitude of poor sanitation. These actions contribute to filthy living circumstances, which generate infectious illnesses Etymologically, sanitation, in its broadest sense, refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human feces and urine. Sanitation also refers to the preservation of sanitary conditions through services such as rubbish collection and wastewater disposal. According to Evans, Vandervoorden & Peal (2019), health, survival, and development all rely on sanitation and hygiene thus many nations experience difficulties in providing appropriate sanitation for their whole populations, putting individuals at risk of water, sanitation, and hygiene-related illnesses. Bindeshwar (2019) assert that sanitation was likewise seen as a basic requirement for development by this it aims to improve people's quality of life by contributing to social development and illness prevention. In reality, providing proper sanitation facilities is better described as a means to an end, because the mindset and behavioral habits of stakeholders define the goal. The public's opinion of the importance of appropriate sanitation goes a long way toward offering desirable measures to reduce the repercussions. In general, poor sanitation practises can be caused by overcrowding, insufficient facilities and amenities, a lack of sanitation education and awareness, a low income level, and uncontrolled housing construction, among other factors. According to Sadalla , Swanson and Velesiw (2019), environmental problems may be created by poor facility provision and people' behavior in communities especially those located in developing countries. Despite its importance of sanitation in human existence, Mosleh and Sudhir (2023) discovered that sanitation infrastructure and services are inadequate in poorer nations and a large number of people in these nations lack access to appropriate water supply, environmental sanitation services, and food security. To buttress further, Bindeshwar (2019) established the poor sanitation contributes to the "death of millions of children under the age of five every year; and about 50 illnesses are related with inadequate sanitation." Individuals' poor environmental activities also contribute to this threat. According to World Health Organization report (2018), 829,000 people die each year in low- and middle-income countries as a result of insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene, accounting for 60% of overall diarrhea fatalities in 2022. WHO and UNICEF (2018) reports that poor sanitation is thought to be the primary cause of 432,000 of these fatalities and a substantial contributor to various neglected tropical illnesses such as intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma and malnutrition are exacerbated by poor sanitation. In 2020, 54% of the global population (4.2 billion people) used a safe sanitation service; 34% (2.6 billion people) used private sanitation facilities connected to sewers where wastewater was treated; 20% (1.6 billion people) used toilets or latrines where excreta was safely disposed of in situ; and 78% (6.1 billion people) used at least a basic sanitation service. Several studies have revealed that environmental sanitation issues are not restricted to a certain residential zone like in traditional core locations, urban centers, and peri urban or suburban areas. In Nigeria, studies on sanitation difficulties in core regions include those by Sanni (2023), Owoeye & Adedeji, (2018), other studies are also conducted outside of Nigeria. These include Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and India (Bindeshwar, 2019, Evans, Vandervoorden, & Peal (2019). The findings of these research indicate that environmental cleanliness is an important component in people's health, productivity, and well-being. Environmental sanitation includes the disposal and treatment of human excreta, solid waste, and wastewater, disease vector management, and the provision of washing facilities for personal and home hygiene, all of which contribute to a sanitary environment. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM In recent years, environmental degradation has a devastating influence on emerging countries, stifling and undermining their progress. Intriguingly, progress in sanitation and improved hygiene has greatly improved health, but many people still have no adequate means of appropriately disposing their wastes. As observed by Ogawa (2023), this is a growing nuisance for heavily populated areas with the risk of infectious disease, particularly to vulnerable groups such as the very young, the elderly, and people suffering from diseases who have low resistance. Nwakile, Eze, & Okanya (2024) averred that poorly controlled waste also means daily exposure to an unpleasant environment, waterborne and filth-borne illnesses, including diarrhoea, cholera, and malaria. These lead to the loss of lives and man-hours, resulting in massive losses to economic growth and development. In response to improves environmental practices, Adimekwe (2013) asserts that good sanitation behaviour and the availability of facilities and services must work in tandem to establish optimal environmental sanitation practices. However both urban and rural areas have in recent times witness poor sanitation behavior impacted by a variety of circumstances such as inadequate hygiene education, neglect of health facilities, insufficient water supply, inadequate toilet/latrine facilities, lack of dustbins for disposing wastes, throwing rubbish anywhere in the streets, inadequate funds to provide sanitation equipment and poor waste storage methods adopted which has a posed a detrimental effect on the health of the resident such as such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, intestinal worm infections and polio, spread of antimicrobal resistance, acute respiratory infection, trachoma and malnutrition through fecal contamination of food and water. Although several researches have been carried on environmental sanitation and practices and how problems of environmental sanitation are not limited to a particular residential zone, scholars have looked forwards to more current interest on the impact of sanitation practices of the residents health especially in the face of environmental and climate change. Upon this premise, the researcher seeks to examine the effect of sanitation practices of the residents with reference Igbo Efon community in Lagos State. 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of sanitation practices on the health of residents of Igbo Efon In Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos State. Other specific objectives includes: i. To examine the sanitation practices of the residents in Igbo Efon community. ii. To Identify the factors influencing sanitation practices of the residents in Igbo Efon community. iii. To examine the effects of sanitation practices on the health of residents of Igbo Efon community. 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION The research is guided by the following research questions 1. What is the level of sanitation practices in Igbo Efon community? 2. What is the attitude of the residents towards sanitation in Igbo Efon community? 3. What are the factors that influence sanitation practices of the residents of Igbo Efon community? 4. What effects does the sanitation practices have on the health of the residents of Igbo Efon 5. What are the strategies that could be employed to improve sanitation practices in Igbo Efon community? 1.5 HYPOTHESIS Ho1: There is no significant effect of sanitation practices on the health of residents Hi1: There is a significant effect of sanitation practices on the health of residents of Igbo Efon Ho2: There are no significant factors that influence the sanitation practices of Igbo efon residents Hi2: There are significant factors influencing the sanitation practices of the residents of Igbo efon 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The importance of clean environment to a healthy living condition for man cannot be over-emphasized. This has necessitated the need for effective and regular sanitation activities the world over. The provision of adequate sanitation facilities, urban infrastructure and enabling environmental sanitation policies influence the achievement of a high quality living condition for man and his environment.The findings of this study will enable the residents of Igbo efon, to better understand and cultivate a clean environment because cleanliness is next to Godliness. The residents need to know better about hygiene or health practices. The findings of the study will help government formulate policies that will enable the residents keep the environment clean. The findings will help the community heads, as well as government to provide adequate facilities that will enable the residents keep a healthy, clean environments. 1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The scope of this study borders on on sanitation practices and its effects on the health of residents of Igbo Efon community, Eti Osa LGA, in Lagos state. The study will further discuss the factors influencing sanitation practices of the residents in Igbo Efon community and strategies that could be employed to improve sanitation practices in Igbo Efon community. 1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY During the process of carrying out this study, the researcher was confronted with a number of obstacles, some of which were limitations pertaining to time and finances, as well as difficulties pertaining to language and the attitudes of the respondents. Nevertheless, the researchers were able to overcome these obstacles in order to guarantee the success of this investigation. In addition, the case study approach that was used in the research presented the investigator with a number of difficulties, such as the chance of making erroneous judgments and being subject to prejudice. In spite of this, the investigator was successful in overcoming the difficulties by adhering to the broad principles of respect for processes, justice, fairness, impartiality in observation and recording, and the weighing of evidence. 1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS. Sanitation: Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. It involves the the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary/clean conditions while hygiene relates to the practice of handwashing with soap after defecation and disposal of child faeces, prior to preparing and handling food. Sanitation practices: Sanitation practices includes the provision and use of facilities and services that safely dispose of human urine and faeces, thereby preventing contamination of the environment Environmental Health: environmental health is the branch of public health that: focuses on the relationships between people and their environment; promotes human health and well-being; and fosters healthy and safe communities.