Risk assessment of sanitation practices and socio-cultural risk factors for incidence of cholera outbreak in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

Healthy living devoid of illness is determined by the extent at which adequate sanitation was held in high esteem. The Kwara State Ministry of Health identified six major waterborne diseases that threaten the health of the inhabitants of the state. Out of these six diseases cholera plays a major role. This study examined household sanitation practices with a view to identifying the spatial pattern of risk based on socio-cultural risk factors for incidence of cholera in the study area. Structured questionnaire and personal observations were used to garner field data. A total of 400 copies of questionnaire were used as sample. Data were analyzed using tables and T-test. Results revealed that there is paucity of sanitation facilities in the study area. Results also revealed that out of the eight socio-cultural risk factors examined; only consumption of raw fishes without cooking was not mentioned. Based on this, the spatial pattern of socio-cultural risk factors for cholera incidence was mapped. The study concluded that sanitation practices were poor in Ilorin metropolis, and there exist socio-cultural risk factors for incidence of cholera outbreak in the study area. Therefore, this study recommended that; government, environmental and health stake-holders should harmonize efforts in enforcing sanitation, organize cholera vaccination programs and curtail the indiscriminate defecation and urination into the water bodies so as to regulate the spread of cholera in Ilorin.