The management of the faeces passed by under five children: an exploratory, cross-sectional research in an urban community in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundSafe management of faeces (SMoF) and environmental contamination by faecal pathogens have been extensively researched although the SMoF in under-five children has been perennially neglected perhaps due to the misconception that it is harmless. This research, therefore, studied the situation, to determine the magnitude and dimensions of the problem aimed at making policy level stakeholders aware of child faeces management systems and so, inform evidence-based implementation of child and health-related programmes in Nigeria.MethodsThe study utilized an exploratory cross-sectional design and a multi-stage sampling technique to identify 300 respondents from 12 randomly selected streets from 4 wards in Ife central local government area. The study collected data with a pretested questionnaire which included direct observations of child defecation practices and existing toilet facilities. Cleaned data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS version 20 with child faeces management outcomes as the dependent variable.ResultsThe mean age of respondents’ and monthly income (mode) were 30.8 ± 7.5 years and ₦10,000.00 ($28.60). Most respondents were mothers to the under five children (84.7%), had a secondary education (72.0%) and were semi-skilled (57.0%). The caregivers had access to improved water sources (93.7%), improved toilets (64.3%), with 64% and 53.7% having above average scores in knowledge and attitudes, respectively. In the study, 19.7% and 69.0% of caregivers practiced safe disposal of faeces passed by the under five child during the day and at night respectively, though most caregivers (94.3%) omitted steps in the safe management of child faeces chain. The under five diarrhoea prevalence rate was 13.7% and unsanitary passage of child faeces is associated with four folds likelihood of having diarrhoea (p = 0.001). The caregivers whose under five children practiced safe sanitation were rich (p = 0.009) and knowledge was significantly associated with ownership of household toilet (P = 0.037), night faeces management chain practice (P < 0.001) and disposal of anal cleaning materials (P = 0.002). Handwashing was significantly associated with household toilet (P < 0.001), wealth (P < 0.001), under five child defecation preferences during the day (P < 0.001) and at night (P = 0.008).ConclusionThe high knowledge and positive attitudes exhibited by the caregivers were at variance with practice. Where under five children defecate during the day were influenced by the disposal of their anal cleaning materials, distance to the toilet and caregivers’ education. The findings highlight the dangers of unsanitary disposal of child faeces and the need to strengthen the related policies that can increase caregivers awareness and practice at all levels and in all livelihood domains.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4078-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Analysis of the effect of health education activities on selected child health determinants in two communities of Ile Ife, Nigeria

“…In this study, 5% of houses had human faeces around the yards, dumps or houses in the implementing area lower than the prevalence of the 8.6% in the non-implementing LGA. The lower rate observed in this study in the implementing LGA may be ascribed to the effect of CIMCI considering that higher values have been reported in other parts of Nigeria even in more recent studies ( 18 ). There is, therefore, a need for health education aimed at sustaining the practice of caregivers regarding disposal of faeces and also to sustain the gains in handwashing practices.…”

Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices, and Housing Quality to Prevent Diarrhea among Under-Five Children in Nigeria

“…It is important to note that all of these factors can amplify without sufficient housing environments and access to adequate WASH facilities in the home environment. Furthermore, a recent study (2017) emphasized the need to strengthen policies related to WASH practices such as unsanitary disposal of child feces, which can contribute to the spread of diarrhea [ 22 ].…”

Within-Compound Versus Public Latrine Access and Child Feces Disposal Practices in Low-Income Neighborhoods of Accra, Ghana

“…20 , 21 Even in households where latrines are used by adults, disposal of child feces in the open is common, especially at night, when the latrine is far from the household or when the child is between 0 and 3 years of age. 10 , 22 , 23 Thus, household child feces disposal practice is an useful indicator for identifying differences in overall household safe feces disposals based on the type of shared sanitation access. In addition, we examined whether perception of latrine use for child feces disposal is more common among neighboring households that share a compound latrine compared with neighboring households that use public latrines.…”