Classification of Sanitation Services and Students’ Sanitation Practices among Schools in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The paucity of information on the number of accessible sanitation facilities in secondary schools in developing countries has hindered efforts in attaining sustainable development in this area. Therefore, this study was designed to bridge that gap. The cross-sectional study utilized a 4-stage sampling technique to select 386 students from schools in Badagry, Lagos. Pre-tested questionnaire and observational checklists were used to obtain data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Respondents’ mean age was 15.8±1.5 years and 55.2% were female. On-site observation revealed that all the schools had improved sanitation facilities, while 37% of the available toilet compartments were inaccessible to the students. Majority (85%) of the facilities provided limited service, while 15% provided basic service. The student to toilet ratio for the public school girls and boys were 3191:1 and 642:1 respectively, while the private school had a ratio of 257:1 and 289:1 for girls and boys respectively. Some of the sanitation practices observed in the schools were open defecation (35.4%), toilet avoidance (21%), and prolonged urine and feacal retention (57.4%). Students from the public school were about 3 times more likely to practice open defecation (OR=2.87; CI=1.160-7.095). Also, male students were more likely to practice open defecation (OR=1.72; CI=1.125-2.615). All the schools did not meet the school sanitation standard of 1 toilet to 30 boys/girls set by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Sustainable sanitation-interventions and maintenance schemes are required to safeguard the health of the students and the community at large.

Menstrual hygiene management inequalities among school girls in Badagry, Nigeria

“…Similar trends of inadequate/ unavailable school WASH facilities in other geo-political zones have been reported by Ejimogu et al [32] in Owerri, South-East Nigeria; CODE [33] in Kaduna, Northwestern Nigeria; Yusuf et al [34], in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria; and Sanni et al [35] Gwagwalada, North Central Nigeria. Moreover, the trend of school WASH disparities between public and private schools in this study has also been reported by several other studies in Nigeria [16,21,35,36]. This is mainly because parents of private school students typically have higher educational status and income levels.…”

Safe Reopening of Schools during COVID-19: An Evaluation of Handwash Facilities and Students’ Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Practices

“…Some factors that contributed to the disparity in the availability of handwash facilities between the male and female toilet blocks was the closure of some new female toilet compartments for "future use" and the school administration's lack of maintenance culture. Another contributory factor could be because male students in the study location were more likely to practice open defecation, implying that they visited the male toilet blocks less frequently (Wada et al, 2020). Even though the majority of the wash-hand stations present had water available, literature has revealed that the use of soap and water is more effective in preventing transmission of diarrhoeal diseases because it eradicates bacteria of fecal origin better than the use of only water (Burton et al, 2011).…”

School Sanitation-Related Psychosocial Stressors among Nigerian Students

“…11 Besides dropping out of school, other vices resultant from poor school sanitation are absenteeism, physical harm, harassment, and stigmatization among both male and female students. [12][13][14] A study across schools in Badagry, Nigeria, reported sanitation-related challenges such as violent attacks and injuries had been experienced by a third of the students, whereas one-fifth of the respondents had lost learning hours because of inaccessibility of sanitation facilities. 14 Comparatively, women and girls are also more susceptible to harassment and violence when using public sanitation facilities.…”

“…[12][13][14] A study across schools in Badagry, Nigeria, reported sanitation-related challenges such as violent attacks and injuries had been experienced by a third of the students, whereas one-fifth of the respondents had lost learning hours because of inaccessibility of sanitation facilities. 14 Comparatively, women and girls are also more susceptible to harassment and violence when using public sanitation facilities. 15 Considering the dire state of sanitation in Nigeria and the significance of the student population, this study seeks to identify the sanitation-related psychosocial stressors faced by students in public and private secondary schools in a peri-urban Nigerian community.…”