Sewage management in correctional facilities and its public health implications In Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated sewage management in correctional facilities and its implications for public health in Rivers State. The research design adopted for this study was the cross-sectional research design. A sample of 75 inmates who had spent at least, six months in the correctional facilities was drawn from three selected facilities in Rivers State. A multi-staged sampling procedure was employed to arrive at the sample. The instrument for data collection was a 17-item validated Sewage Management Correctional Facilities Public Health Implications Questionnaire (SMCFPHIQ) with a reliability index of 0.78 using Cronbach Alpha. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was also conducted with five (5) selected Correctional Facility Officers and the results presented qualitatively. Descriptive statistics of percentage and frequencies were used and results obtained, presented in tables. Findings revealed that pour flush was the most common type of toilet (46.7%) used for sewage management in correctional facilities. Unhealthy conditions always present in the sewage management facility were leakages from septic tanks (58.7%), odour nuisance (88%), overflow of fecal matters inside the toilet (68%) and irregular power supply for pumping of water (88%). Poor maintenance culture (33.3%) and negative attitude of inmates (20%) were the most common challenges affecting sewage management while fly infestation (66.7%), odour nuisance (74.7%), disease outbreak (66.7%), rodent infestation (70.7%) and unsightliness (88%) were always present with serious implications to public health. Improved maintenance culture, expansion of sewage management facilities and regular awareness programmes on sanitary use of facilities by inmates were recommended.