Original Research Articlet
Year: 2019 | Month: November | Volume: 6 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 616-622
Assessment of the Sanitation Status in a Tertiary Institution in Southeastern Nigeria
Anamali C.P.1, Amadi C.O.A.1, Okereke C.O.1, Azuamah Y.C.2, Amadi A.N.1
1Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
2Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Anamali C.P
ABSTRACT
Sanitation is practiced to promote hygiene and prevent disease among people through the provision of potable water and adequate sanitation facilities. The objective of this study was to assess the sanitation status of hostels in Federal University of Technology Owerri, in Southeastern Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design to assess the environmental sanitation in school hostels. The survey was designed with the use of questionnaire and checklist which were administered to a sample size of 390 participants. The collected data was uploaded into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21.0 and analyzed using Pearson Chi square and descriptive statistical analysis. The relationship between variables were determined with chi-square statistical test and the findings showed that 378(96.9%) of the participants reported that they utilized available sanitary facilities which included refuse waste bin, toilet, water, hand washing and drainage system.Twenty eight (7.1%) out of 390 respondents agreed that the sanitary facilities were adequate. Three hundred and fifty (89.7%) said they have access to functional school sanitary facilities. Out of 390 respondents, 249(63.8%) had knowledge of water supply as the potential source of contamination and 230(58.9%) reported diarrhea and typhoid fever as the major disease conditions prevalence. In conclusion, the findings showed available and functional sanitary facilities but they did not meet the required standards set by the WHO guidelines. It was recommended that the management of tertiary schools should ensure that they meet public health standards in environmental sanitation.
Key words: Sanitation, Hygiene, Hand washing, Waste disposal, Excreta disposal
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