PREVALENCE AND ELIMINATION OPTIONS FOR OPEN DEFECATION PRACTICE IN SOUTH- EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Open defecation remains a significant public health challenge to the overall well-being in Nigeria. This study explored the prevalence and elimination options for open defecation practice in South- East Nigeria. The study design adopted was mixed methods approach that combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. The study was guided by two objectives, and was anchored on the theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), developed by Icek Ajzen in 1985 and refined later in 1991 (Ajzen, 1991),as the frameworks of analysis. The version of mixed research design employed involved concurrent simultaneous collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The general population of the study was 22,265,421 being the projected population of South-East Nigeria by 2022, while the target population was 1905 which was the population of six rural and urban communities of Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states where open defecation is highly endemic in South-East, Nigeria. The multi stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The sample size for the quantitative component of the study was 1049 respondents’ statistically derived using Taro Yamane formula. However, 21 participants were purposively selected and interviewed for the qualitative In-depth Interview (IDI) component. The qualitative data were analysed thematically. On the other hand, the quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics such as simple frequency distribution tables, and simple percentages, while Mann-Whitney U statistical tool was run to determine if statistically, a significant difference exists in prevalence of open defecation between rural and urban dwellers. The result of the test shows that open defecation was statistically higher among rural dwellers (M = 550.47) than for the urban dwellers (M =407.17), U 70,627.00=, p = .001. This shows that open defecation are practiced more by persons residing in rural areas. Other findings show that the practice of open defecation is highly prevalent in South-East Nigeria due to ignorance, poverty and lack of adequate sanitation infrastructure. Children and young adults were found to engage more in open defecation in the rural areas and more women engage in the practice in urban slums/areas. The study recommended adequate provision of water and sanitation resources in all the south- East states of Nigeria. The need for poverty alleviation programme by the government to be stepped up in the area was also emphasized. Finally,substantial awareness campaigns against open defecation should be vigorously mounted in the study area by both nongovernmental organizations and government.