ASSESSMENT OF ADOPTION OF WATER AND SANITATION PRACTICES BY RURAL DWELLERS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the adoption of recommended water and sanitation practices in Niger State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 223 respondents for the study, using validated interview schedule with reliability coefficient of 0.86. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression model. Results showed that 51.29% of the respondents were within the active age range of 41-50 years, while 69.40% were male. The findings indicated that water and sanitation practices such as collecting water from protected sources ( =2.89), storing water in clean containers ( =2.73) and burning of garbage to control flies ( =2.06) were widely adopted in the area. Some of the perceived effects of adoption of water and sanitation practices were reduction in medical bills, improved hygiene and increase in productive time for farming with 65.0%, 60.1% and 54.7% response rates respectively. Education, income and cooperative membership had positive significant influence on adoption of recommended practices at P < 0.05 probability level. Challenges to the adoption of water and sanitation practices were high cost of facilities, inadequate knowledge and cultural practice. Thus, it was recommended that more awareness should be created among respondents by Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and agricultural/health extension workers through cooperative societies to improve level of adoption and change the cultural practice of open defection. It was also suggested that the respondents should be taught the use of local water purification methods, detergents and soaps to assuage the problem of high cost of facilities.