Geospatial Evaluation of Open Defecation Indicators from Across the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper analyzes the geoSpatial serial correlations of open defecation indicators such as water availability, unimproved sanitation, literacy level and Gini coefficient from across the 36 states and FCT Abuja in Nigeria for 2018. It examines the relationship that may exist between open defecation and each of the indicators considered. The various spatial model selection diagnostic tests conducted revealed that the Spatial Lag Model is the most appropriate predicting model having the minimum values from some information criteria, results show that the global Moran’s I values of open defecation is below 0.2, and spatial lag coefficient is -0.0243, this shows that open defecation in Nigeria decreases by 0.0243% for each additional 1% of water availability and other factors in the neighboring states. The results also show that unimproved sanitation is the only significant predictor for open defecation challenge in Nigeria, based on the available data. The states with highest proportion of open defecation are Kogi, Plateau, and Bayelsa, while states with the lowest include Katsina, Abia, and Akwa-Ibom. This paper provides beneficial policy recommendations for reducing open defecation in Nigeria and areas of focus towards achieving the national vision of making Nigeria open defecation Free by 2025.