Project – The Effect of Environmental Sanitation Practices on the Prevention of Communicable Diseases: A Case Study of Selected Communities in Mushin, Lagos State.

CHAPTER ONE

THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PRACTICES ON THE PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN MUSHIN, LAGOS STATE

1.1 Background to the Study

Environmental sanitation is an essential component of public health because it involves the management and control of environmental conditions that may threaten human health and wellbeing. It covers practices such as proper disposal of refuse, adequate drainage, safe excreta disposal, maintenance of clean surroundings, provision of safe water, food hygiene, and control of disease-carrying organisms. A clean and healthy environment reduces people’s exposure to harmful microorganisms and other environmental hazards. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) explains that unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene contribute significantly to the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly diarrhoeal diseases. Environmental sanitation should therefore be understood not merely as the beautification of residential areas but as a preventive public health measure that protects individuals and communities from avoidable illnesses.

The relationship between environmental sanitation and communicable diseases is particularly important because many infectious diseases spread through contaminated water, food, soil, waste materials and disease vectors. Poor sanitation can encourage the multiplication of bacteria, viruses and parasites, while stagnant water and improperly managed refuse may create breeding sites for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying organisms. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, dysentery and malaria are associated with different environmental and transmission pathways. For example, cholera is commonly transmitted through the consumption of water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, while malaria is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The WHO (2023) identifies access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene as important measures for reducing diarrhoeal diseases and other health risks. Similarly, the WHO (2024) emphasises that malaria prevention requires a combination of interventions, including vector control and the reduction of mosquito breeding opportunities. These relationships demonstrate the importance of appropriate sanitation practices in preventing the environmental conditions that facilitate disease transmission.

At the global level, inadequate sanitation remains a major public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where population growth, poverty, inadequate infrastructure and weak waste-management systems place pressure on environmental health services. The WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2023) Joint Monitoring Programme report that billions of people worldwide still lack safely managed sanitation services, while many communities continue to depend on inadequate or shared sanitation facilities. This situation increases the possibility of human exposure to faecal contamination and disease-causing organisms. The problem is not restricted to rural settlements, as densely populated urban communities may also experience poor drainage, indiscriminate waste disposal, overcrowded housing and insufficient public toilets. In such environments, communicable diseases can spread more easily when sanitation facilities are inadequate and residents do not consistently observe proper hygiene practices. Consequently, improving environmental sanitation has become an important part of international efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 3 on good health and wellbeing and Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation (United Nations, 2015).

In Nigeria, environmental sanitation is a significant public health concern because many communities experience challenges associated with refuse disposal, blocked drainage channels, open defecation, inadequate sewage management, unsafe water sources and poor hygiene practices. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have increased the demand for sanitation infrastructure, while the facilities available in some settlements remain insufficient to meet residents’ needs. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and UNICEF (2022), through the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, provide important information on household water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in Nigeria and demonstrate the need to strengthen access to improved sanitation and hygiene services. Poor sanitation can expose households to contaminated water and food, encourage the breeding of disease vectors and increase the risk of outbreaks of preventable infections. In addition, indiscriminate dumping of refuse can obstruct drainage channels and contribute to flooding, creating further environmental health challenges. These conditions make environmental sanitation an important responsibility for households, community leaders, local government authorities and public health agencies.

The situation is particularly relevant in Lagos State because of its large population, high level of urbanisation, commercial activities and pressure on available environmental infrastructure. Some densely populated parts of the state face challenges involving solid waste management, drainage maintenance, sewage disposal, overcrowding and access to adequate sanitation facilities. The Lagos State Government has established environmental health and waste-management institutions to improve sanitation and maintain a healthier urban environment. However, the effectiveness of sanitation programmes depends not only on government policies and the availability of facilities but also on residents’ willingness to use them appropriately. The WHO and UNICEF (2023) stress that safe sanitation requires more than access to a toilet; it also involves the safe management of human waste throughout the sanitation chain. This means that waste must be properly contained, collected, transported, treated and disposed of without exposing people to contamination. Therefore, environmental sanitation in Lagos requires coordinated action by public authorities, private waste operators, households and community organisations.

Environmental sanitation is also influenced by the attitudes, knowledge and daily practices of residents. Even where waste collection services and sanitation facilities are available, poor disposal habits, indiscriminate littering, open dumping, inadequate handwashing and failure to maintain household surroundings may undermine their effectiveness. Household sanitation practices such as covering refuse containers, cleaning toilets, washing hands with soap, protecting drinking water, disposing of wastewater appropriately and keeping food preparation areas clean can reduce opportunities for infection. The WHO (2022) identifies hand hygiene as an important measure for preventing the spread of infectious diseases, while the WHO and UNICEF (2023) emphasise that safe water, sanitation and hygiene services are necessary for protecting community health. Public awareness, community participation and environmental health education are therefore essential in encouraging residents to adopt sustainable sanitation habits. Environmental sanitation should consequently be treated as a shared responsibility rather than an activity that depends exclusively on government sanitation exercises.

The need to examine these issues is evident in selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, where the study focuses on the relationship between environmental sanitation practices and the prevention of communicable diseases. As an urban local government area, Mushin requires effective management of household refuse, drainage systems, public spaces, toilets, wastewater and other environmental health facilities to protect residents. Where refuse is dumped indiscriminately, drainage channels are blocked, water sources are contaminated or household hygiene is neglected, residents may face increased exposure to disease-causing organisms and vectors. The WHO (2018) identifies inadequate sanitation and unsafe water as important contributors to infectious disease burdens, while the NBS and UNICEF (2022) demonstrate the importance of household sanitation and hygiene conditions in Nigeria. However, the extent to which sanitation practices are observed and how residents understand their relationship with communicable disease prevention may differ across communities. It is against this background that the study examines the effect of environmental sanitation practices on the prevention of communicable diseases in selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The prevention of communicable diseases remains a major public health concern in many Nigerian communities, particularly in densely populated urban settlements where environmental sanitation may be inadequate. Although environmental sanitation is widely recognised as an important means of preventing infectious diseases, some households and communities continue to experience problems associated with indiscriminate refuse disposal, blocked drainage channels, unsafe water storage, poor toilet facilities and inadequate personal hygiene. These conditions can create opportunities for the contamination of food and water and increase exposure to disease-causing microorganisms. The WHO (2024) identifies poor sanitation as a major contributor to diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid, while also noting that adequate sanitation and hygiene can prevent a considerable proportion of diarrhoeal illnesses. The persistence of these environmental conditions raises concerns about the effectiveness of existing sanitation practices and their contribution to disease prevention in urban communities.

A major aspect of the problem is that environmental sanitation depends on both the availability of appropriate facilities and the behaviour of residents. In some communities, people may have access to refuse collection services, toilets, drainage systems and water facilities but may not use or maintain them properly. Refuse may be deposited in unauthorised locations, household wastewater may be discharged into open spaces, and stagnant water may remain around residential buildings. Poor handwashing practices and unsafe handling of food and drinking water can further increase the risk of infection. The 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping report by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, National Bureau of Statistics and development partners reported that about 48 million Nigerians practised open defecation and only 8% of the population practised safe handwashing. These findings illustrate the scale of sanitation and hygiene challenges in the country and the need to strengthen public awareness, access to facilities and community participation in sanitation programmes (Federal Ministry of Water Resources et al., 2022).

The problem is also reflected in research conducted among urban slum households in Lagos State. Aminu and Udeze (2023), in their study of the relationship between water, sanitation and hygiene practices and waterborne diseases among urban slum households in Lagos State, identified diarrhoea, typhoid fever, dysentery and cholera among the diseases reported by respondents. Their findings also associated disease incidence with factors such as water treatment, toilet facilities, toilet sharing, refuse disposal methods and environmental sanitation practices. This evidence suggests that poor sanitation is not simply an environmental inconvenience but a condition with direct implications for community health. Nevertheless, the existence of sanitation programmes does not automatically guarantee that residents consistently adopt safe environmental practices. Differences in household income, education, availability of waste collection services, access to clean water and awareness of disease transmission may influence how sanitation is practised. There is therefore a need to examine these factors within the selected communities in Mushin rather than assume that sanitation conditions and their health implications are uniform across Lagos State.

Although previous national and state-level reports have provided useful information on water, sanitation and hygiene challenges, there remains a need for community-level investigation into how environmental sanitation practices influence the prevention of communicable diseases in selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area. In particular, it is important to establish the sanitation practices commonly adopted by residents, identify the environmental conditions that may encourage disease transmission, examine residents’ knowledge and participation in sanitation activities, and assess the relationship between these practices and the prevention of communicable diseases. Without such evidence, interventions may focus mainly on periodic clean-up exercises without adequately addressing the everyday household behaviours and environmental conditions that sustain sanitation problems. The study therefore seeks to investigate the effect of environmental sanitation practices on the prevention of communicable diseases in selected communities in Mushin, Lagos State, with a view to providing findings that may assist residents, community leaders, environmental health officers and relevant government agencies in improving sanitation and protecting public health.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of this study is to examine the effect of environmental sanitation practices on the prevention of communicable diseases in selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Examine the environmental sanitation practices adopted by residents of selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area.

2. Identify the common communicable diseases associated with poor environmental sanitation in the selected communities.

3. Assess the influence of refuse disposal, drainage maintenance, toilet hygiene and safe water practices on the prevention of communicable diseases.

4. Examine the level of residents’ awareness and participation in environmental sanitation activities and disease-prevention programmes.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What environmental sanitation practices are adopted by residents of selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area?

2. What are the common communicable diseases associated with poor environmental sanitation in the selected communities?

3. How do refuse disposal, drainage maintenance, toilet hygiene and safe water practices influence the prevention of communicable diseases?

4. What is the level of residents’ awareness and participation in environmental sanitation activities and disease-prevention programmes?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between environmental sanitation practices and the prevention of communicable diseases among residents of selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study is significant because environmental sanitation is directly connected to public health, community wellbeing and the prevention of infectious diseases. The findings are expected to provide useful information on sanitation practices and their relationship with communicable diseases in selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area.

Residents of the selected communities: The study will educate residents on the importance of maintaining clean surroundings, disposing of refuse appropriately, keeping drainage channels free from waste, using hygienic toilet facilities and practising proper personal hygiene. It will also encourage households to understand their responsibilities in preventing diseases associated with poor sanitation.

Government and policymakers: The findings will provide useful information to the Lagos State Government, Mushin Local Government Authority and relevant environmental health agencies. The information may assist policymakers in developing effective sanitation policies, improving waste-management services, strengthening environmental monitoring and providing adequate sanitation infrastructure.

Environmental health officers: The study will provide information that may help environmental health officers identify common sanitation problems and improve community sanitation monitoring. It may also support the development of more effective public enlightenment programmes and routine environmental health inspections.

Healthcare professionals: The findings may assist healthcare workers and public health educators in understanding the environmental conditions that contribute to communicable diseases. This knowledge may strengthen health education, community disease-prevention campaigns and collaboration between healthcare institutions and environmental sanitation agencies.

Community leaders and organisations: Traditional leaders, community development associations, religious organisations and other community groups may benefit from the findings by using them to encourage collective responsibility for environmental cleanliness. The study may also promote community participation in sanitation exercises and local environmental improvement programmes.

Researchers and students: The study will serve as a reference material for students and researchers interested in environmental health, public health, sanitation management and communicable disease prevention. It may also provide a foundation for further studies on environmental sanitation in other urban communities in Lagos State and Nigeria.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the effect of environmental sanitation practices on the prevention of communicable diseases in selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State.

Geographical scope: The geographical coverage is restricted to selected communities within Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State. The study will not cover every community in the local government area or other local government areas in Lagos State.

Content scope: The study examines environmental sanitation practices, including refuse disposal, drainage maintenance, toilet hygiene, wastewater management, safe water practices, personal hygiene and general cleanliness of residential surroundings. It also considers communicable diseases associated with poor sanitation, residents’ awareness of disease prevention and their participation in sanitation activities.

Population scope: The study will focus on residents of the selected communities in Mushin Local Government Area. Depending on the adopted sampling procedure, adult household members and other eligible residents will provide information on sanitation practices and their experiences of communicable diseases.

Subject scope: The research is limited to environmental sanitation and its relationship with communicable disease prevention. It does not cover every possible cause of communicable diseases, such as genetic conditions or infections transmitted exclusively through routes unrelated to environmental sanitation.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined according to how they are used in this study.

1. Environmental Sanitation: The activities and practices involved in maintaining clean and healthy surroundings through proper refuse disposal, drainage maintenance, safe excreta disposal, wastewater management and general environmental cleanliness.

2. Sanitation Practices: The daily actions undertaken by individuals and households to maintain a clean environment and prevent exposure to disease-causing organisms.

3. Communicable Diseases: Illnesses caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that can spread directly or indirectly from one person, animal or contaminated source to another.

4. Disease Prevention: Measures adopted to reduce the occurrence and spread of diseases through improved hygiene, sanitation, safe water, health education and other protective practices.

5. Refuse Disposal: The collection, storage, transportation and appropriate disposal of household and community waste to prevent environmental pollution and public health hazards.

6. Drainage Maintenance: The cleaning and proper management of drainage channels to ensure the free movement of wastewater and rainwater and prevent stagnant water and flooding.

7. Personal Hygiene: Individual cleanliness practices such as regular bathing, handwashing with soap, proper food handling and maintaining clean clothing and surroundings.

8. Safe Water Practices: Activities that ensure drinking water is collected, treated, stored and handled in ways that minimise contamination and protect human health.

9. Environmental Health: The aspect of public health concerned with environmental conditions and factors that may affect the health, safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

10. Residents: Individuals who live in the selected communities within Mushin Local Government Area and form part of the population considered in this study.

11. Sanitation Awareness: The level of knowledge and understanding residents possess concerning environmental cleanliness, proper hygiene and the relationship between poor sanitation and communicable diseases.

12. Community Participation: The involvement of residents, community organisations and local leaders in activities designed to improve environmental sanitation and prevent diseases.

Project – The Effect of Environmental Sanitation Practices on the Prevention of Communicable Diseases: A Case Study of Selected Communities in Mushin, Lagos State.