ASSESSMENT OF WATER SANITATION FACILITIES UTILIZATION AMONG THE RURAL HOUSEHOLDS OF SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

The study examined the water sanitation facilities utilization among the rural households of south west Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the rural household heads; identified various sources of water supply and their providers; examined the rural household heads' knowledge of water source contamination; examined respondents' awareness of adequate water treatment methods and the awareness of waterborne disease. The population of the study comprised of all the rural households in Ondo and Oyo States in Southwestern of Nigeria. The sampling procedure employed was multistage sampling technique to select 355 household heads comprising a total of 167 rural household considered out of 278 rural households from the selected cells in Oyo state while a total of 188 rural household heads selected out of 314 rural household heads from the selected cells in Ondo State for the study. The data for the study were analyzed with descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation while inferential statistical tool such as logistic regression analysis model The mean age of the respondents from Ondo State was 47 years while that of respondents from Oyo State was 45 years. Rain water collection was the major source of improved water supply from Ondo State (87.4%) and Oyo State (86.7%). In both Ondo and Oyo States, the knowledge of water source contamination is still on moderate level. Households in Ondo State (WMS = 2.98) and Oyo State (WMS = 2.91) were more aware of boiling of water as the major adequate water treatment methods. In both states, the awareness of adequate water treatment methods is still on moderate level. In both States, the awareness of water-borne diseases is still on moderate level, majority had favourable attitude towards utilization of water sanitation facilities while the level of utilization of water sanitation facilities is still on moderate level. The result of the Regression analysis model indicated that years of schooling (t=-3.758***; p=0.000) and households' size (t=-2.089**; p=0.037) were significantly related to utilization of water sanitation facilities. It was therefore concluded that the utilization of water sanitation facilities was influenced by income level, knowledge of water source contamination, awareness of adequate water treatment methods, awareness of water-borne diseases, household size. The local council being the agency saddled with water provision, should be more empowered in terms of resources and facilities in order to be able to do their work of water provision and water sanitation information dissemination effectively.