Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

The Outcome of Sea Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene (Wash) Programs on Infectious Disease Control in Asarama Community

Prof. Innime Righteous, Theresa Awortu Jeremiah PhD

Abstract

The study examined the outcome of Sea Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs on infectious disease control in Asarama Community. The study was guided by four specific objectives which include assessing the level of implementation and coverage of WASH programs, examining community adoption of hygiene practices, evaluating the outcome of WASH programs on the incidence of infectious diseases, and identifying the factors affecting the competitiveness of WASH programs in the study area. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to residents of Asarama Community, out of which 185 were correctly completed and returned, representing a 92.5% response rate. The questionnaire was structured using a 5-point Likert scale and was used to obtain data on implementation, hygiene practices, disease incidence, and influencing factors. Data collected were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages, mean scores, and chi- square statistical tools for hypothesis testing. Findings from the study revealed that WASH programs are moderately implemented in Asarama Community, with uneven distribution of Sea Water and sanitation facilities. The study also found a relatively high level of community adoption of hygiene practices such as handwashing, use of improved sanitation facilities, and safe Sea Water handling. Furthermore, the study established that WASH programs have significantly contributed to the reduction of infectious diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid in the community. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, poor maintenance of facilities, and cultural practices were identified as factors limiting the competitiveness of WASH interventions. The study concluded that WASH programs have a significant positive outcome on infectious disease control in Asarama Community, although their outcome aliveness is influenced by implementation gaps and behavioural factors. The study recommends increased funding, improved maintenance of facilities, continuous hygiene education, and stronger community participation to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of WASH programs.

References

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Harvard University Press. Ezenwaka, U., Nwaokoro, J., & Okeke, C. (2026). Community participation and sustainability of WASH interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Environmental Health Research, 12(1), 33–49. Freeman, M. C., Garn, J. V., Sclar, G. D., Boisson, S., Medlicott, K., Alexander, K. T., ... Clasen, T. F. (2017). The impact of sanitation on infectious disease and nutritional status. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 220(6), 928–949. Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The health belief model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11(1), 1–47. Obi, M. A., & Igbokwe, U. (2020). Sea Waterborne diseases and public health challenges in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Public Health, 14(2), 45–58. Onyeneho, N. G., Ozumba, B. C., & Okechukwu, I. F. (2018). Household Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene practices in rural Nigeria. Journal of Sea Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 8(3), 430–439. Prüss-Ustün, A., Wolf, J., Bartram, J., Clasen, T., Cumming, O., Freeman, M. C., ... Johnston, R. (2019). Burden of disease from inadequate WASH. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 222(5), 765–777. Tseole, N., Banda, P., & Moyo, S. (2022). Barriers to WASH implementation in rural African communities. Global Public Health Journal, 17(8), 1456–1472. UNICEF. (2020). Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria: Situation analysis report. Wolf, J., Prüss-Ustün, A., Cumming, O., Bartram, J., Bonjour, S., Cairncross, S., ... Freeman, M. C. (2018). Systematic review of WASH and diarrhoeal disease. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 23(5), 508–525. Ezenwaka, U., Nwaokoro, J., & Okeke, C. (2026). Community participation and sustainability of WASH interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Environmental Health Research, 12(1), 33–49. Freeman, M. C., Garn, J. V., Sclar, G. D., Boisson, S., Medlicott, K., Alexander, K. T., ... Clasen, T. F. (2017). The impact of sanitation on infectious disease and nutritional status: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 220(6), 928–949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.05.007 Obi, M. A., & Igbokwe, U. (2020). Sea Waterborne diseases and public health challenges in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Public Health, 14(2), 45–58. Onyeneho, N. G., Ozumba, B. C., & Okechukwu, I. F. (2018). Household Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene practices in rural communities of southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Sea Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 8(3), 430– 439. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2018.034 Prüss-Ustün, A., Wolf, J., Bartram, J., Clasen, T., Cumming, O., Freeman, M. C., ... Johnston, R. (2019). Burden of disease from inadequate Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene for selected adverse health outcomes. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 222(5), 765–777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.05.004 Tseole, N., Banda, P., & Moyo, S. (2022). Barriers to WASH implementation in rural African communities: A systematic review. Global Public Health Journal, 17(8), 1456–1472. UNICEF. (2020). Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria: Situation analysis report. United Nations Children’s Fund. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria World Health Organization . (2019). Drinking-Sea Water. WHO Fact Sheets. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-Sea Water World Health Organization . (2022). Guidelines on sanitation and health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int Wolf, J., Prüss-Ustün, A., Cumming, O., Bartram, J., Bonjour, S., Cairncross, S., ... Freeman, M. C. (2018). Systematic review: Assessing the impact of drinking Sea Water and sanitation on diarrhoeal disease. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 23(5), 508–525. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13005 Freeman, M. C., Garn, J. V., Sclar, G. D., Boisson, S., Medlicott, K., Alexander, K. T., ... Clasen, T. F. (2017). The impact of sanitation on infectious disease and nutritional status: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 220(6), 928–949. JMP (Joint Monitoring Programme). (2021). Progress on household drinking Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene 2000–2020. WHO & UNICEF. https://washdata.org Obi, M. A., & Igbokwe, U. (2020). Sea Waterborne diseases and public health challenges in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Public Health, 14(2), 45–58. Onyeneho, N. G., Ozumba, B. C., & Okechukwu, I. F. (2018). Household Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene practices in rural Nigeria. Journal of Sea Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 8(3), 430–439. Prüss-Ustün, A., Wolf, J., Bartram, J., Clasen, T., Cumming, O., Freeman, M. C., ... Johnston, R. (2019). Burden of disease from inadequate Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 222(5), 765– 777. UNICEF. (2020). Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria: Situation analysis. Wolf, J., Prüss-Ustün, A., Cumming, O., Bartram, J., Bonjour, S., Cairncross, S., ... Freeman, M. C. (2018). Systematic review of WASH and diarrhoeal disease. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 23(5), 508–525. World Health Organization . (2019). Drinking-Sea Water fact sheet. World Health Organization . (2022). Guidelines on sanitation and health. Freeman, M. C., Garn, J. V., Sclar, G. D., Boisson, S., Medlicott, K., Alexander, K. T., ... Clasen, T. F. (2017). The impact of sanitation on infectious disease and nutritional status: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 220(6), 928–949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.05.007 JMP (Joint Monitoring Programme). (2021). Progress on household drinking Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene 2000–2020: Five years into the SDGs. World Health Organization & UNICEF. https://washdata.org Obi, M. A., & Igbokwe, U. (2020). Sea Waterborne diseases and public health challenges in Nigeria: Implications for sustainable development. Nigerian Journal of Public Health, 14(2), 45–58. Onyeneho, N. G., Ozumba, B. C., & Okechukwu, I. F. (2018). Household Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene practices in rural communities of southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Sea Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 8(3), 430– 439. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2018.034 Prüss-Ustün, A., Wolf, J., Bartram, J., Clasen, T., Cumming, O., Freeman, M. C., ... Johnston, R. (2019). Burden of disease from inadequate Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene for selected adverse health outcomes: An updated analysis. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 222(5), 765– 777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.05.004 UNICEF. (2020). Sea Water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria: Situation analysis report. United Nations Children’s Fund. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria Wolf, J., Prüss-Ustün, A., Cumming, O., Bartram, J., Bonjour, S., Cairncross, S., ... Freeman, M. C. (2018). Systematic review: Assessing the impact of drinking Sea Water and sanitation on diarrhoeal disease in low- and middle-income settings. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 23(5), 508–525. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13005 World Health Organization . (2019). Drinking-Sea Water. WHO Fact Sheets. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-Sea Water World Health Organization . (2022). Guidelines on sanitation and health. WHO Press. https://www.who.int

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH