PERCEPTIVE ASSESSMENT OF WATER AVAILABILITY, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE PRACTICES BY RESIDENTS OF OLUKU COMMUNITY, OVIANORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Water is an essential resource for human beings and is crucial for economic and community development. Providing suitable water sources for human settlements, ensuring the water is safe for domestic consumption, and supplying it in sufficient quantities are crucial. This study aims to evaluate the perceptive opinions of the residents of Oluku Community on water availability sanitation and hygiene practices. A total of 150 number questionnaires were administered to 150 residents of Oluku Community by simple random sampling. Data on the sanitation, personal hygiene conditions, health status, availability and utilization of sanitary facilities were collected using a well-structured questionaire. Frequency and percentages were used to assess the students’ responses. The study showed that 59% respondents were female and 41% were male, and the main source of water in the community was a borehole (73.3%) which was cited within the premises (88%) and the majority (95.3%) agreed that water from the main source was currently available. Also 36.67% agreed that they use the water for drinking, cooking, and washing. 89.3%. Majority (81.3 %) disagreed that they boil the water before use, while 18.7% agreed that they boil the water before use. The majority (98%) agreed that they have never taken their water to the laboratory for analysis, majorly because of no knowledge (60%). minority of 20% agreed that they boil the water before use.Also 92% stated that they always wash their hands before eating or cooking, 56.67% of participants wash their hands with water only.. The results of this study revealed that residents in Oluku community have access to water and WASH facilities. But more awareness on personal hygiene needs to be created to totally eradicate environmental problems.