Evaluation of Household Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Management in a Nigerian Rural Community

Abstract

The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) disparities between the rural and urban areas have hindered the Sustainable Development Goal 6. Recent data is required in our bid to tackle this menace effectively. This study aimed to provide data on the status of household WASH facilities in a remote village in Southwestern Nigeria. The survey was cross-sectional in design, and total sampling was used to select 70 household respondents. Data were obtained via observational checklists, questionnaire, and key informant interview guide. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics like measures of frequency and proportions were used. The respondents had a mean age of 43.1 ± 16.4 years, only 2.9% had tertiary education. The village had two handpump boreholes provided by the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (WSSSRP)-II. All the respondents reported that the boreholes were their primary drinking water source, and water was available all through the year. In over 80% of households, females were assigned the duty to fetch water, while most households had the boreholes within 30 minutes from their houses. The sanitation facilities were also provided via the WSSSRP-II. The majority (90%) of the respondents owned pit latrine with slab, of which only 10% shared their facilities with other households. Most (95.7%) of the respondents still practised open defecation at instances they could not access their household latrines. All the toilets had water for handwashing, and the soap commonly used by community members was palm kernel ash. The condition of water and sanitation in the village was quite progressive. However, subsequent interventions should ensure toilet facilities are available in non-household settings like farms and markets.