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Abstract
Environmental sanitation remains a major public health concern in market environments, particularly in developing countries where overcrowding, poor waste disposal, and inadequate sanitation facilities are common. This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and barriers to environmental sanitation among market women in Uselu Market.
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the environmental sanitation practices among market women in Uselu market and identify the factors influencing these practices with the aim of providing evidence-based recommendations for improving sanitation standards, reducing environmental health risks, and preventing sanitation-related diseases within market settings.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted among 330 market women selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to summarize data, while Chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables at a 5% level of significance.
Results: Findings revealed that the majority of respondents had good knowledge of environmental sanitation, with 64.5% correctly defining environmental sanitation and over 90% demonstrating awareness of disease prevention, waste management, and environmental cleanliness. Environmental sanitation practices were generally good, as 98.8% cleaned their stalls daily, 93.6% used designated waste bins, and 96.7% participated in sanitation exercises. However, poor practices were observed in waste segregation, where 73.3% never separated waste before disposal, and reporting of sanitation problems, where 34.8% never reported sanitation issues. Major barriers identified included financial constraints (16.7%), lack of waste bins (16.1%), and irregular waste collection (9.1%). Ethnicity was significantly associated with knowledge of environmental sanitation practices (p = 0.005), while religion was significantly associated with sanitation practices (p = 0.021).
Conclusion: The study concluded that although market women demonstrated good knowledge and relatively good sanitation practices, important gaps remain due to infrastructural and financial barriers. The study recommends provision of adequate waste bins, regular waste collection, promotion of waste segregation, continuous health education, and stricter enforcement of sanitation regulations to improve environmental sanitation in market settings
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the environmental sanitation practices among market women in Uselu market and identify the factors influencing these practices with the aim of providing evidence-based recommendations for improving sanitation standards, reducing environmental health risks, and preventing sanitation-related diseases within market settings.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted among 330 market women selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to summarize data, while Chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables at a 5% level of significance.
Results: Findings revealed that the majority of respondents had good knowledge of environmental sanitation, with 64.5% correctly defining environmental sanitation and over 90% demonstrating awareness of disease prevention, waste management, and environmental cleanliness. Environmental sanitation practices were generally good, as 98.8% cleaned their stalls daily, 93.6% used designated waste bins, and 96.7% participated in sanitation exercises. However, poor practices were observed in waste segregation, where 73.3% never separated waste before disposal, and reporting of sanitation problems, where 34.8% never reported sanitation issues. Major barriers identified included financial constraints (16.7%), lack of waste bins (16.1%), and irregular waste collection (9.1%). Ethnicity was significantly associated with knowledge of environmental sanitation practices (p = 0.005), while religion was significantly associated with sanitation practices (p = 0.021).
Conclusion: The study concluded that although market women demonstrated good knowledge and relatively good sanitation practices, important gaps remain due to infrastructural and financial barriers. The study recommends provision of adequate waste bins, regular waste collection, promotion of waste segregation, continuous health education, and stricter enforcement of sanitation regulations to improve environmental sanitation in market settings
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