Perception of Open Defecation among Yobe State Residents, a Driver for Cholera Outbreak in Nigeria

Enenche Francis Ejeh; Yusuf Madaki Lekko; Ndifreke Udoinyang James; Fatima Adamu Lawan; Juliana James Ndahi; Abdulrahman Mohammed; Stephen Bitrus Balami

doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251201080908

Abstract
Background and Aim: Despite numerous efforts to combat open defecation, cholera outbreaks, which are a major outcome of open defecation, continue to plague communities in Yobe state, Nigeria.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study design and was conducted in nine randomly selected Local Government Areas (Damaturu, Gujba, Tarmuwa LGAs in Zone A, Potiskum, Fika, Nangere LGAs in Zone B, and Nguru, Bade, and Machina LGAs in Zone C) of Yobe State across the three zones. The instrument of the study was a structured questionnaire. The collected data was downloaded into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for data cleaning and analyzed using SPSS Version 20.
Results: At the end of the survey, 390 data were collected, and the result obtained from this study showed that 100% (390) of the respondents had adequate knowledge of open defecation, 343 (87.9) understood that open defecation is harmful to human and community health. On the attitude of respondents, 159 (40%) respondents agreed that defecating on farmlands increases soil fertility, while 342 (87.7%) of the respondents have ever defecated in farmlands and bushes. Also, 134 (43.4%) affirmed about traditions that encourage open defecation, 88.5% of the respondents uses designated latrines while 17(4.4%) agreed that open defecation is more hygiene than defecating in the toilet. In terms of cholera transmission via open defecation, 367 (94.1%) of the respondents agreed that open defecation is associated with the risk of cholera transmission, and there is no significant difference among the demographic characteristics except for LGA of respondent’s residence (x2 = 31.664, p<0.000).
Conclusion: The respondents have adequate knowledge on open defecation and its harmful effect on human health but majority of them still practice it hence the need for intensive sensitization on their attitude and practice of open defecation.

Key words: attitude, Cholera, knowledge, open defecation, Yobe State, Nigeria.