Approximately one billion individuals around the world continue to engage in open defecation, with an additional 1.4 billion relying on unimproved toilet facilities. In Nigeria, up to 105 million people lack access to safe and improved toilet facilities; of these, nearly 40 million practice open defecation. The aim of the study was to assess the socio-cultural and economic determinants of open defecation practices in Kano State, Nigeria. The study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 423 head of households participated in the study within six LGAs and Twelve communities in Kano State. The Interviewer Administered Questionnaire was developed by the researcher in line with the study objectives after reviewing various relevant literatures. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 presented in tables, frequencies and percentages including inferential statistics. The demographic characteristics of respondents shows that majority are within the ages of 16 – 25years (30%), male (79.9%), with the family size of 6 – 10 (37.2%) and no formal education. (68.3%). Also majority of the respondents are unemployed (42.4%), married (83.5%), Hausa/Fulani (80.6%), with ≤ 30,000/Month (68.6%) and are Moslems by religion (99.1%), living in rural areas (53.7%) but does not practice open defecation (53%). This study noted that the cultural determinants of open defecation include Household head’s education level (`c=2.81), taboos against enclosed defecation (`c =2.94), beliefs about the harmlessness of children’s faeces (`c= 2.73), OD is a continuation of ancestral practices (`c =2.92), restrictions on girls’ toilet use during menstruation
(`c=2.95) social modeling of outdoor defecation by respected community members (`c =2.98). This study further indicates that the Socio-Economic determinant of open defecation among residents in Kano State are lack of money and manpower for toilet construction (c= 2.93), availability of sanitation tools and water (`c=3.10), Availability of water in the toilet (`c=3.44), Extent of financial difficulties (c= 3.14), Level of capabilities to purchase personal latrines (c=2.77) and Self-rated ability to build latrines (c=2.50). Lastly, this study indicates that other determinants of open defecation include Lack of social capacity (community support) (c=3.13), Access to media (c=3.23), Degree of public toilets hygiene (`c =3.49), Level of education the community (`c=3.15), Level of public latrine safety (c=3.71) and Level of public latrine safety and convenience (c=3.91) It was therefore, recommended that public health nurses, Kano State Government, community leaders and community members have an important role such as mass campaign, review of all outdated policies on OD and cultural reorientation toward open defecation practices.
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- Socio-cultural; Economic; Determinants; Open Defecation; Practices
- SOCIO CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DETERMINANT
