An Assessment of the Effects of Poor Sanitation Practices Amongst Students in Higher Institutions in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The general objective of this study is An assessment of the effects of poor sanitation practices amongst students in Higher Institutions in Nigeria University of Calabar as a case study. The specific objectives are to;
- To identify the hostel sanitation practices in University of Calabar
- To examine the effect of hostel sanitation practices on student’s health in the University of Calabar
- To examine the effectiveness of hostel sanitation practices in the University of Calabar
- To identify the challenges facing hostel sanitation practices in the University of Calabar
- To examine the view of students towards hostel sanitation practices in the University of Calabar
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The focus of this study is on perceived effects of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall of residents, University of Calabar. The concepts reviewed are as follows:
- Overview of Health and Sanitation
- Environment and Hygiene Practices
- Effects of Poor Sanitation on Health
- Poor Sanitation and Diarrhoea infection
- Poor Sanitation and Malaria diseases
- Poor Sanitation and Cholera diseases
- Poor Sanitation and Typhoid diseases
- Other Effects of Poor Sanitation on Health
- Sanitation and School Attendance
- The Needs for Hygiene and Sanitation Management
- Approaches Towards Improving Sanitation Services Delivery
- Barriers to Sanitation Services Delivery
- Appraisal of Literature Reviewed
Overview of Health and Sanitation
Sanitation is a complex topic with links to health and both social and economic development. Although it affects many, it is championed by few (Mara, Lane, Scott & Trouba, 2010). Globally, sanitation is recognized as any system that promotes proper disposal of wastes, use of toilet and avoiding open space defecation (African Development Bank [ADB], 2011; Bartram & Cairncross, 2010). Ideally, a sustainable sanitary system should provide a clean environment that protects and promotes human health, break the disease cycle and is socio-economically viable and appropriate (Okot-Okumu & Oosterveer, 2010).
WHO (2010) stated that ‘health’ is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being but not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a fundamental human right and the attainment of a highest possible level of health was crucial (Lancet, 2010). Generally people who have a duty to promote health saw it as resource for everyday life and not the object of living. It was a positive concept that emphasizes social and personal resources and physical capabilities (Lancet, 2010). In rural areas and small towns, there are often no vehicles for collection of waste, hence uncontrolled dumping occurs within the built up areas with all its attendant health hazards and negative environmental impact (Mensah & Larbi, 2005).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter discusses the method and procedure adopted in carrying out this study. It comprises of research design, population of the study, sample size and sampling technique, research instrument, validity of the instrument, reliability of the instrument, procedure for data collection and method of data analysis.
Research Design
Descriptive research design of survey type was used for this study. Abiola (2007) opined that this type of research design involves a clear definition of the problem, collection of relevant and adequate data, careful interpretation of the data and skillful reporting of the findings.
Folawiyo (2007) explained that descriptive survey type involves the collection of data for the purpose of describing existing conditions. This research design was used for the study because it involves clear definition of the problem, collection of relevant and adequate data and reporting of findings. Also, the design is appropriate because it requires sample of the population.
Population of the Study
Daramola (2005) defined population as a set of element, people, objects or even events in a given research. The target population for this research work revolved around the males and females respondents in the study area with common characteristics to which the researcher wants to generalize the results of the study. As such, the total population of hall of residents in University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria is twenty four (24) in which eighteen (18) are private owned and six (6) are university owned with total number of seven thousand, five hundred and thirteen (7,513) undergraduate students. In this study, the target population consists of four hostels comprising two private hostels and two university owned hostel with a total of two thousand two hundred and twenty (2220) (Student Affairs Unit, 2018).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Introduction
This chapter presents the results and discussion of finding on the perceived effects of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall of residents, University of Calabar. These are reported in two sections. Section A deals with the personal data of respondents which were analyzed using frequency count and simple percentages, while section B presents the analysis of respondents’ opinion on the four variable of the research work. Data relating to the hypotheses were tested for overall significance using inferential statistics of chi-square at 0.05 alpha level.
Table 2 shows that 128 of the respondents representing 57.7% were male, while female were 94 representing 42.3% of the population. It also shows that respondents below 18 years of age were 71 representing 32.0%, age 18-24 were 113 (50.9%) and respondents that are 25 and above were 38 representing 17.1%.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presents the summary of the entire study carried out by the researcher, drew conclusion as well as recommendations on the perceived effects of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall residents, University of Calabar.
Summary
The study examined the perceived effects of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall residents, University of Calabar. Relevant literatures from different authorities, professional organisations, ministries, scholars and agencies were reviewed. The overview of health and sanitation, effects of poor sanitation on health; poor sanitation and diarrhea infection, poor sanitation and malaria disease, poor sanitation and cholera disease, poor sanitation and typhoid diseases, sanitation and school attendance, the needs for Hygiene and sanitation management approaches towards improving sanitation services delivery as well as barriers to sanitation services were examined.
The descriptive research of survey type was adopted. The populations for the study were all undergraduate students in hall of residents, University of Calabar. Two hundred and twenty two respondents were sampled for the study. A researcher-structured questionnaire which was validated and tested for reliability was adopted for the study. The instrument was administered by the researcher and research assistants. The data collected in the study were analyzed using the descriptive statistics of both frequency count and percentage. Inferential statistics of chi-square was used to analyse the hypotheses postulated for this study at 0.05 alpha level of significance.
Conclusions
Based on the finding of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
- Diarrhea infection is an effect of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall of residents in University of Calabar.
- Malaria disease is an effect of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall of residents in University of Calabar.
- Cholera disease is an effect of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall of residents in University of Calabar.
- Typhoid disease is an effect of poor sanitation on health of undergraduate students in hall of residents in University of Calabar.
Recommendations
Based on the conclusions drawn from this study, the following recommendations were made;
- Undergraduate students staying in hall of residents should keep clean and sanitized environment to avoid diarrhea infection.
- Students should eliminate stagnant water to keep mosquito which cause malaria away from the environment and also adopt the use of mosquito net to prevent mosquito bite.
- Students should promote safe drinking water, sanitation and food safety to prevent cholera disease.
- Undergraduate students should ensure they drink potable water and preserve food from bacterium contamination to avoid typhoid disease.
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