ABSTRACT
Malaria still remains a significant public health problem especially in low and middle income countries and transmission in Nigeria is abysmally high. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the effectiveness of environmental sanitation in the control of malaria in Ovia North-East Local Government Area.
The research design is a descriptive type of survey design and the study population consisted of an estimated 203,500 indigenes of the study setting (NPC 2015 population projection). A sample size of 260 respondents was selected, using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a self-designed structured questionnaire which was validated by the project Supervisor and two other lecturers from the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. Collated data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency and percentage tables. The relationship between environmental sanitation practices and malaria prevalence was established as the vector for malaria, the female Anopheline mosquito which thrives in damp, dirty and unhygienic environments was identified to be the main agent of transmission. Environmental sanitation practices such as clearing of nearby bushes and shrubs, covering of puddles of stagnant water, clearing of drainages, proper collection and management of solid wastes were found to be effective in the control and prevention of malaria. However, study findings shows that the collection of refuse in lidded bins or tied bags and the regular removal by waste managers is not ideal in the study area.
It is thus recommended that for the successful prevention and control of malaria through environment sanitation, the input of government can never be underestimated, especially in the provision of facilities for proper waste collection, disposal and management in general, as well as manpower for urban sanitation and waste management services. The place of sufficient awareness by residents on the relationship between a clean environment and prevalence of malaria is also paramount importance towards its prevention and control.
