APPRAISAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PRACTICES IN SELECTED MARKETS IN AKURE, NIGERIA.

This study examines environmental sanitation practices of the users in the selected markets in Akure Ondo State, Nigeria. It assesses the socio-economic characteristics of the market users, as well as the factors influencing environmental sanitation practices. The study also examined the relationship between socio-economic characteristics of respondents and environmental sanitation practices. Data were obtained from two purposively selected markets. A traditional (Adedeji) and modern (Nepa) market. Random Systematic sampling techniques was used to administer a total of 151 structured questionnaires for the traders in the study area. Therefore, 57 questionnaires were administered in Adedeji market and 94 questionnaires were administered in Nepa neighborhood market, using the shop/stalls as the sampling units. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The study revealed that most of the market users in Nepa (67.5%) and Adedeji (61.4%) market were females respectively. It was also revealed that some of the goods selling in the market includes; foodstuff, livestock, electronic, supermarket and textile products. This indicated that waste are generated on daily basis in both markets and collected on daily and weekly basis, where 95.4% of traders adopted waste collection services. Findings reveals that sanitation facilities were fairly (47.7%) provided. Cleaning of toilets, drainage, waste collection among others are the sanitation practices carried out mostly on weekly basis. With mean weighted value of (4.74), avoidance of penalty is the dominant factor influencing participation in the sanitation exercise. Result of Correlation analysis revealed that there is low positive correlation (r = 0.142, p = 0.084) between socioeconomic characteristics of respondents and sanitation practices in the two markets. The study concludes by recommending among others that market management and government should be actively involved in the provision of sanitation facilities in the markets to enhance proper hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]