Health implications of housing, human waste disposal practices and water supply in Uyo, southern Nigeria

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the health implications of housing, human waste disposal practices and water supply in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. The town was demarcated into three zones A, B and C equivalent to the north-eastern area, southern area and north-western area respectively. Out of the estimated one hundred and twenty two thousand three hundred and thirty eight households in the town, a total of one hundred and forty households were selected from the three zones A, B and C in the proportion of 40:40:60 respectively based on the number of wards per zone. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed to the head/representative of each household.  Number of people per room, number of people per toilet, location of toilet, type of toilet facility and type of water supply were evaluated for each zone. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Zone B had the largest number of people per room (2.10) while zone C had the largest number of people per toilet facility (2.14). Zone A had the highest proportion of households having toilet facility located within the house (95.00%). Water closet was the most frequent toilet type in all the zones with the proportion being highest in zone A (p <0.01). Borehole was observed to be the commonest source of water supply in all the zones. The status of housing facility, human waste disposal and water supply in Uyo is satisfactory. Zone A had the best facilities consistent with the high income status of the zone.

Key Words:   Health implication, Housing, Toilet facility, Water supply, Uyo