Household liquid waste disposal, sanitation practices, and self-reported health risks in informal and planned urban settlements: evidence from Wa Municipality, Ghana

This study examines how household liquid waste disposal practices and sanitation conditions shape self‑reported health risks in two contrasting urban communities – Zongo (informal settlement) and SSNIT (planned settlement) – in Wa Municipality, Ghana. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed, drawing on data from 216 household respondents and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques (frequencies and percentages), while qualitative data were analysed thematically to provide contextual insights into observed patterns. Comparative analysis reveals differences in waste disposal practices and sanitation conditions between the two communities. In Zongo, 64.8% of households dispose of liquid waste indiscriminately into open spaces, compared to only 7.4% in SSNIT, where the majority (81.5%) rely on drainage systems. In addition, sanitation conditions differ markedly, with higher reliance on shared facilities and open defecation in Zongo. These differences in waste disposal practices, sanitation conditions, and access to infrastructure are reflected in reported health risks, with malaria reported by all respondents in Zongo compared to 44.4% in SSNIT, alongside higher reported incidences of diarrhoeal diseases and cholera in the informal settlement. The results indicate consistent co‑occurrence between inadequate sanitation, unsafe liquid waste disposal practices, and higher reported exposure to environmental health risks, particularly in the informal settlement.