ASSESSMENT OF HYGIENE PRACTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATTION OF OPEN DEFECATION IN SETTLEMENT ALONG RIVER NGADDA OF MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Open defecation and improper hygiene practice are the brazing public health issues of the present society. The study adopted the descriptive cross-sectional sample design. A sample size of 140 household respondents, from settlement along river Ngadda of Maiduguri, was selected for the study. Systematic random sampling technique was used in choosing the respondents of the study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency distribution tables and percentages. Findings revealed that high percentage 78.6% of the respondents were male while female constitute 21.4%, majority of respondents 29.3% were within the age group of 51-60 followed by 27.1% between the age bracket of 60 and above, respondents educational level was low 36.4% attended primary school while 29.3% did not attended formal school, in tern of their occupation 26.4% were labourers and most of the household in the area 7-9 were occupied by 27.9% respectively. The study reveals household accessibility of toilet 32.1% practices open defecation, 27.9% used pit latrine while 15.0% had soakway toilet. Findings also revealed that household hygiene practice was low area 20.0% wash latrine in 2-3 days followed by 17.3% wash hand after defecation. Findings further revealed environmental implication of open defecation 27.3% of the opined pollute river water followed by 22.4% opined pollute environment. The recommend that Government should provide appropriate infrastructure and resources so that all human beings at all times have access to toilet and sanitation.