Spatial Proximity, Household Vulnerability and Health Effects of Informal Solid-Waste Disposal in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State

Informal solid-waste disposal in rapidly urbanising communities poses environmental and public health concerns, particularly where residential areas are located near unmanaged waste sites. This study assessed household proximity to informal solid-waste disposal sites, vulnerability characteristics, and self-reported health symptoms in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design integrated household questionnaire surveys with geographic information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis. Of 427 questionnaires administered, 389 valid responses were retained, yielding a response rate of 91.1%. Additionally, 10 informal waste disposal sites were mapped, and their spatial distribution was assessed using Average Nearest Neighbor analysis. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations between residential proximity and reported health symptoms. Results showed that 238 respondents (61.2%) lived within 250 m of an identified disposal site. Dust exposure was reported by 71.5% of respondents, while 77.6% reported exposure to offensive odours. Headache (44.7%) and cough (43.2%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Reanalysis of the supplied contingency-table counts revealed significant associations between residential-distance categories and headache (χ² = 19.76, p < 0.001), cough (χ² = 15.59, p = 0.001), breathing difficulty (χ² = 21.94, p < 0.001), eye irritation (χ² = 15.25, p = 0.002), and skin irritation (χ² = 16.14, p = 0.001). The nearest-neighbour ratio of 0.60 suggested a clustered distribution of disposal sites, pending verification of the spatial analysis parameters. The reported regression results indicated higher adjusted odds of respiratorysymptoms among respondents residing within 100 m of disposal sites (AOR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.68 4.81), although the model requires verification against the original statistical output. The findings highlight the proximity of residential communities to informal waste disposal sites and the frequent reporting of environmental exposures and health symptoms. Improved waste management, spatial planning, and environmental monitoring are recommended. Given the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported symptoms, the findings indicate associations rather than causal relationships.