Assessment of sanitation level in six Primary Health Care centers in Niger-State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Sanitation encompasses effective clearing of surfaces using appropriate products, decontamination of medical equipment and devices use in patient care procedures. Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) requires proper waste management and sanitation because its improper handling could be very detrimental to many patients, health workers, visitors to the PHC and the health of the host community. This study assessed the practice and processes of sanitation in Primary Health Care Centers located at Rafi Local Government of Niger State, Nigeria. This by identifying and accessing the sources and methods of managing hospital waste as variables that can hinder or promote sanitation services.

Method/Result: Six PHCs sanitation practices were assessed with help of questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed using frequency tables, percentage ratio and pictorial representations. The results show that most of the primary health centers have good sources of waste collection but poor mechanism of waste management.

Conclusion: The study identified specific variables that can hinder or promote PHCs’ sanitation practice and processes in the study area. It recommended the right promotion of these sanitation related variables to enhance the quality of health care provision.

Keywords: Sanitation; Primary Health Care (PHC); Rafi.