Okechukwu O.I, Okechukwu A.A., Noye-Nortey H and Owusu-Agyei
Human excrement, garbage and wastewater are usually deposited in surface drains, open spaces and streams. This has resulted in poor sanitation and s erious health implications. An analytical cross- sectional study design was used to examine the hous ehold and community knowledge, attitude and practices of waste disposal and its health implicat ions in the Kintampo North District of Ghana. Of a total of 250 household heads interviewed, 176 (70.4 %) were males, 74 (29.6%) were females, 134 (53.6%) were not educated, and 211 (84.4%) does not have toilets facilities in their homes. 38.3% of t he families without toilet in their homes facilities p ractice open range defecation, while 61.3% rely on public latrine for their convenience. There was a s trong association between type of occupation of household heads and ownership of a toilet [ χ χχ χ 2 = 20.5, p value = 0.002]. Majority (82.8%) of hou seholds interviewed dispose their waste at refuse dumps and open gutters, 7.6% in the bush, while 0.8% burn them. 53.2% these households use children for their waste disposal 10% of whom were below 10 years of age. Though over 80% of the household heads knew of disease relationship with human faeces and indiscriminate refuge disposal, only 2.4% had an ad equate knowledge of this problem, which has a strong association with the educational levels of t he respondents [ χ χχ χ 2 = 29.1, p value = 0.001]. Inadequate sanitation facilities has created severe environmental and sanitation problems such as indiscriminate dumping of waste, discharging of was te waters into the environment as well as open defecation. This poses major health hazards to the c ommunity especially to the mothers and their children. Poverty, inadequate waste disposal facili ties, and the low level of environmental health awareness need to be addressed urgently.
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