Access to Sanitation Facilities and Its Associated Health Problems

Worldwide, it was estimated that about 3.5 billion people remained without access to a safely managed sanitation facility by the end of 2022, representing a long-standing public health problem (World Health Organization-WHO, 2022a). This problem greatly contributes to the spread of waterborne diseases because it negatively impacts global health outcomes. The world is currently facing a sanitation crisis, with millions of people lacking access to basic sanitation facilities. The lack of sanitation facilities increases people’s susceptibility to diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, among others, because those who do not have these services are highly exposed to pathogens. Improving sanitation is one of the initiatives being done to meet Sustainable Development Goal Six, which aims to provide and sustain access to clean water and sanitation by the year 2030, as highlighted by UNICEF. The situation in Africa is even more urgent. As of 2022, at least 779 million people in Africa did not use basic sanitation facilities, with 208 million communities resorting to open defecation (WHO, 2022). The huge gap in sanitation infrastructure in the region is worsening inequalities in healthcare and thwarting socio-economic development in Africa. The sanitation crisis in Nigeria is also rather critical. As of 2024, more than 95 million people in the country did not have access to basic sanitation facilities, of whom 48 million continued to resort to open defecation, including 18 million children (UNICEF, 2022). Also, 70 percent of schools and 88 percent of healthcare facilities in the country did not have access to basic sanitation facilities (UNICEF, 2022). Rivers State, a location in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, is one of the states which demonstrate the sanitation crisis in the country. Although details about Ahoada West LGA may not be available, it is also faced with the same challenges as other rural locations of the state, including a lack of sanitation infrastructure, a low supply of clean water, and high rates of sanitation-related ailments. Internationally, issues like urbanization, inadequate investment, and the lack of political will are contributing factors to the existence of the sanitation crisis. In Africa, the issues are further exacerbated by infrastructure and socio-economic issues. In Nigeria, the improvement of the sanitation aspect has been impeded by a lack of investment. An example of this is the fact that only ₦15 billion was spent between 2018 and 2022 on sanitation infrastructure against the annual investment of ₦168.75 billion required (UNICEF, 2024). In Rivers State and Ahoada West LGA, issues lie with the lack of adequate sanitation infrastructure and lack of awareness combined with environmental issues like flooding. Studying the accessibility of sanitation facilities and health-related issues within Ahoada West LGA is important for various reasons. Firstly, it helps provide data that can aid in tailored intervention initiatives. Secondly, researching the particular challenges within the given community helps to fuel the debate on sanitation in Africa and, by implication, the African continent as a whole. Lastly, improvement in the sanitation condition within Ahoada West LGA will enable the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

The aim of this study is to examine the access to sanitation facilities and its associated health problems.

1. 1What is the level of knowledge of AWELGA community members regarding sanitation, hygiene, and their links to disease prevention?
2. 2What are the attitudes of residents toward sanitation, hygiene practices, and community-based sanitation interventions?
3. 3What types of sanitation facilities are available and used by households across the wards in Ahoada West LGA?
4. 4What sanitation and hygiene practices are adopted by households in Ahoada West LGA?

1. H1Households with higher knowledge levels on sanitation and hygiene are more likely to adopt good sanitation and hygiene practices
2. H2Participation in sanitation education programs is significantly associated with better sanitation and hygiene practices among residents