PATTERNS OF OPEN DEFECATION PRACTICE IN SOUTH- EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Open defecation remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. This studyinvestigated patterns of open defecation practice in South- East, Nigeria, especially in ruraland urban slums of the region. The study was guided by two objectives, and was anchored onTranstheoretical theory which served as the frameworks for analysis. The mixed researchdesign involving concurrent simultaneous collection of both quantitative and qualitative datawas adopted. The population of the study was 22,265,421, being the projected population ofSouth-East Nigeria by 2022. However, the target population was 1905 which was thepopulation of six rural and urban communities of Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states where opendefecation is highly endemic in South-East, Nigeria. The multi stage sampling technique wasused to select the respondents. The sample size for the quantitative component of the studywas 1049 respondents’ statistically derived using Taro Yamane formula, while 21participants were purposively selected and interviewed for the qualitative In-depth Interview(IDI) component. The quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics such assimple frequency distribution tables, and simple percentages. On the other hand, thequalitative data were analysed thematically. The findings show that bush defecation and“short- put method” whereby people use polythene bags to defecate and thereafter throwthem away indiscriminately, were the major forms/patterns of open defecation in both ruraland urban/slum areas in Southeast Nigeria. A majority of rural residents attribute opendefecation to households without toilets as well as households residing in the samecompounds in urban slums with shared single toilet forcing people to practice opendefecation. Children were found to engage in open defecation more in the rural area andwomen amongst urban/slums dwellers. The study recommended an urgent need for adequateprovision of water and sanitation materials in all South-East states, of Nigeria to combat opendefecation. Also poverty alleviation programme by the government should be stepped up inthe area. Finally, substantial awareness campaigns against open defecation should bevigorously mounted in the study area by the government.