Enviromental Sanitation and National Development

Abstract

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna state to determine the level of environmental sanitation, and its effects on productivity as measured by school absenteeism and work days lost. The study used a pre-tested structured questionnaire to determine housing waste disposal practices. This was coupled with observation by researchers as regards proximity to open refuse site and open sewers, and association of that with productivity and development. The mean number of work days lost among those most proximal to sewers and open refuse dump was 9.87±2.31 compared to those 4.56±1.16; this difference is statistically significant (p < 0.05).Environmental sanitation has significant effect on health and productivity of people, as measured by school absenteeism by student, and days of works lost. This gives credence to the immediate need to address environmental sanitation in our country, with a view to foster national development.

Keywords: Environment, sanitation, absenteeism, works days, productivity.