E. E. IMARHIAGBE

This study assessed the sanitation, hygiene, and health status of residents in Amufi Community, a peri-urban settlement in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The research aimed to evaluate existing sanitation facilities, examine hygiene practices, and identify common health risks linked to poor sanitation and hygiene conditions. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire administered to 220 randomly selected residents. Data collected included information on socio-demographic characteristics, sanitation facilities, hygiene behaviors, and self-reported health outcomes, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that 87.7% of households used flush toilets, while 9.5% relied on pit latrines, with 39.5% sharing toilets with other hous holds. Waste disposal practices were poor, as 17.3% of respondents dumped refuse in open spaces and 32.3% resorted to burning. Although 90% had access to soap, only 44.5% had designated handwashing areas, and just 30% consistently used soap and water for handwashing. About half of the respondents (50.3%) reported experiencing waterborne diseases within the past year, with typhoid fever (70.3%) and diarrhea (37.8%) being the most prevalent. Community involvement in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs was low, with only 21.8% of respondents participating in any sanitation or hygiene improvement activities. These results indicate that although access to sanitation infrastructure in Amufi is mode ately high, inadequate hygiene practices, poor waste management, and limited community engagement continue to sustain preventable health risks. The study concludes that strengthening WASH infrastructure, enhancing hygiene education, and promoting active community participation are essential strategies for improving public health outcomes and reducing disease burden within the Amufi Community

The health and safety of children is a contributing factor to attendance in school and optimum academic performance. Having access to water, sanitation and hygiene factors prevents disease outbreaks among other benefits. This study was carried out to assess the WASH status of Faith Immaculate College and May and Steve Academy in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from both schools and subjected to analysis of selected physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The WASH status of the schools was evaluated using data gathered through a questionnaire. From the results obtained, the physicochemical quality of the water in the schools were all within the permissible limits for pH, chloride, nitrite and biochemical oxygen demand as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Microbiological analysis revealed that the total heterotrophic bacterial counts (3.5 x 10 1 - 8.0 x 10 1cfu/ml) and total fungal counts (2.0 x 10 1 - 5.0 x 10 1cfu/ml) were within permissible limits. However, the total coliform counts (4 - 17MPN/100ml) far exceeded the limit Centres for Disease Control limit and indicates a potential health risk when consumed. The bacterial isolates from this study were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus sp. while the fungal isolates are Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Mucor sp. and Penicillium citrinum. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern showed that only ciprofloxacin was effective in the treatment of all bacterial isolates. The assessment of WASH status revealed that there was water available at both schools and the sanitary facilities were adequate, although waste management at Faith Immaculate College was not satisfactory. Therefore, it is recommended that water treatment be carried out to improve its quality, while more efforts should be made to improve waste management practices especially in Faith Immaculate College.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is a growing field that supports the Sustainable Development Goal 6 which seeks to ensure water and sanitation for all. This study determined the WASH status of Uselu, Ogida and Useh markets in Egor Local Government Area. Water samples were collected from two points at Uselu and Ogida markets and analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological qualities, adopting standard analytical procedures and microbiological techniques respectively. Findings showed results as pH ranged from 4.70 to 5.00 (Usleu) and 5.10 to 6.29 (Ogida), Chlorine, 24.85 mg/l to 28.4 mg/l (Ogida) and 35.5 mg/ to 46.15 mg/l (Uselu), Nitrate, 0.68 mg/l to 1.31 mg/l (Uselu) and 1.85 mg/l to 3.19 mg/l (Ogida), BOD5, 0.33 mg/l to 0.55 mg/l (Uselu) and 1.85 mg/l to 2.60 mg/l (Ogida). The heavy metal concentrations determined showed that iron was not detected in both markets, lead was not detected in one of the Uselu samples while the second read 0.04 mg/l and Ogida samples ranged from to 0.01 mg/l to 0.04 mg/l. Chromium ranged from 0.01mg/l to 0.04mg/l (Ogida) and 0.04 mg/l to 0.07mg/l (Uselu). The total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 4.0 × 10 cfu/ml to 5.5 × 10 cfu/ml (Uselu) and 12 × 10 cfu/ml to 13 × 10 cfu/ml (Ogida). The total coliform counts ranged from 9MPN/100ml to 15MPN/100ml (Uselu) and from 6MPN/100ml to 7 MPN/100ml (Ogida). Fungi counts ranged from 0.33× 10 cfu/ml to 0.66 ×10 cfu/ml (Uselu) and from 1.33 × 10 cfu/ml to 1.67 × 10 cfu/ml (Ogida). From the questionnaire survey, it was discovered that boreholes and toilet facilities were available at Uselu and Ogida market (100% respectively) while none was found at Useh (100%). In Uselu and Ogida markets, hygiene was poor due to lack of soap materials (100% respectively) while at Useh, poor hygiene practices could be attributed to the lack of water as well as soap materials. At Uselu market, wastes were seldom evacuated by the waste management board (50%) and totally neglected in the environs of Ogida and Useh market (100% respectively). The results therefore show the need for an improvement of the WASH sectors of the three markets, especially Useh market, in order to protect the health and well-being of the traders and buyers

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is a growing field that supports the Sustainable Development Goal 6 which seeks to ensure water and sanitation for all. This study determined the WASH status of Uselu, Ogida and Useh markets in Egor Local Government Area. Water samples were collected from two points at Uselu and Ogida markets and analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological qualities, adopting standard analytical procedures and microbiological techniques respectively. Findings showed results as pH ranged from 4.70 to 5.00 (Usleu) and 5.10 to 6.29 (Ogida), Chlorine, 24.85 mg/l to 28.4 mg/l (Ogida) and 35.5 mg/ to 46.15 mg/l
(Uselu), Nitrate, 0.68 mg/l to 1.31 mg/l (Uselu) and 1.85 mg/l to 3.19 mg/l (Ogida), BOD5, 0.33 mg/l to 0.55 mg/l (Uselu) and 1.85 mg/l to 2.60 mg/l (Ogida). The heavy metal concentrations determined showed that iron was not detected in both markets, lead was not detected in one of the Uselu samples while the second read 0.04 mg/l and Ogida samples ranged from to 0.01 mg/l to 0.04 mg/l. Chromium ranged from 0.01mg/l to 0.04mg/l (Ogida) and 0.04 mg/l to 0.07mg/l (Uselu). The total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 4.0 × 10 cfu/ml to 5.5 × 10 cfu/ml (Uselu) and 12 × 10 cfu/ml to 13 × 10 cfu/ml (Ogida). The total coliform counts ranged from
9MPN/100ml to 15MPN/100ml (Uselu) and from 6MPN/100ml to 7 MPN/100ml (Ogida). Fungi counts ranged from 0.33× 10 cfu/ml to 0.66 ×10 cfu/ml (Uselu) and from 1.33 × 10 cfu/ml to 1.67 × 10 cfu/ml (Ogida). From the questionnaire survey, it was discovered that boreholes and
toilet facilities were available at Uselu and Ogida market (100% respectively) while none was found at Useh (100%). In Uselu and Ogida markets, hygiene was poor due to lack of soap materials (100% respectively) while at Useh, poor hygiene practices could be attributed to the lack of water as well as soap materials. At Uselu market, wastes were seldom evacuated by the waste management board (50%) and totally neglected in the environs of Ogida and Useh market (100% respectively). The results therefore show the need for an improvement of the WASH sectors of the three markets, especially Useh market, in order to protect the health and well-being
of the traders and buyers.