ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to access the effectiveness of environmental sanitation in the control of malaria among residents of the Halls of residence, University of Benin, Edo state, Nigeria.
A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to generate data from 247 student respondents who were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. An observational approach was used to assess the sanitary condition of respondent’s dwellings and facilities. The instrument for data collection was validated by experts from the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education before administered to the students in their various halls of residence.
The data retrieved were immediately inputted and analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. The results of the study among others revealed that: Sanitation practices among undergraduate students in the University of Benin are low, students show little or no concern towards the environmental condition of their living space. And also, inadequate water supply, poor toilet facilities, insufficient toilet, bathroom, durable waste disposal facilities and poor drainage system are the major causes of poor sanitation in the hostel environment.
It was recommended that there is need to sensitize the students on cleanliness through their representative bodies and that keeping the environment clean on campus should be a joint responsibility of the school authority and students, the school authority should also put modalities in place to encourage good environmental practices among students.
