Public Health Implication Of Household Solid Waste Management In Awka South East Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Solid waste management remains one of the major challenges of urbanization faced by developing countries. The sanitary state of an area is largely influenced by the waste handling practices of the residents and the measures in place for safe waste evacuation and disposal. Objective: This study was aimed at examining the waste handling practices among households in Awka, an urban area in south eastern Nigeria. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 200 households were selected using a multi-staged random sampling technique and information was obtained from them using an interview-administered questionnaire. The data obtained was analyzed and relevant proportions calculated. Results: The bulk of the solid waste generated consisted of putrescible matter and cellophane bags. 170 (85%) of the households stored their waste in a closed container outside the house. 73% of the respondents disposed their waste through the inefficient government waste management agency, 27% dumped theirs in unauthorized areas and the remainder patronized private mobile cart pushers. Majority of the respondents (87.5%) did not sort their waste prior to disposal. Despite very good knowledge of waste recycling (95%), only 35 households (17.5%) practiced it. More than half of the respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the level of government involvement in waste management and wished it could do more. Conclusion: There is a need for greater government involvement, community participation and orientation with private sector involvement in waste management in Awka with a view to building capacity for effective delivery of waste management services and ultimately improve the sanitary state of the city thereby reducing preventable disease burden on the populace.