The Sources of Water Supply, Sanitation Facilities and Hygiene Practices in an Island Community: Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Background: The polarization of the Nigerian society with a population of about 198 million people, growing at the rate of 3.2% per annum, into a large rural sector and a small urban component provides a basis for the inadequate provision of health infrastructure in the rural areas. For instance, over 65% of Nigerian population who live in the rural areas are most neglected and deprived of basic services as well as other modern infrastructural necessities that are essential to the maintenance and promotion of good health. Hence its supply is a major factor for consideration in the health of any community. This study aimed to assess the sources of water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in an island community of Amassoma, Bayelsa State. Materials and Method: A cross sectional descriptive study design was used, the 357-sample size for housing units was determined using the appropriate statistical formula and systematic sampling method was used with a sampling interval of two. A 30-item administered closed-ended structured questionnaire was used. Data was collected from 198 households and analysed using descriptive statistics with frequency counts and simple percentages using computer aided statistical analysis by Microsoft Excel. Results: The result identified multiple sources of water supply which includes rain, river/stream, pipe borne, borehole, sachet water and table water with borehole and sachet water being the major source. The sanitary condition of the water source shows that 28.8% dirty, 5.6% fairly clean, 68.7% admitted to not treating their water at home, while 15.2% just store at home, 10.1% use water guard and 6.0% practice boiling. For the toilet facilities, 40.9% use septic tank, 33.8% do open defecation, 15.7% use the river, 13.1% use traditional pit latrines, while 9.0% use ventilated improved toilet pit latrine. 5.6% were fairly clean, 28.8% dirty while 39.4% use the river for bathing purposes, 14.1% have open bathrooms while 1.6% have other forms of bathroom facilities. 63.6% dump their refuses at open dump sites while 10.6% burn theirs. 9.9% dump refuses in the river while 22.2% practice other forms of refuse disposal. Hand washing, an important hygiene practice with 95.9% practicing hand washing after visiting the toilet, 76.8% before cooking, 72.7% after cooking while 85.9% before eating. Common health problems show, 25.3% of the respondents had malaria, 20.7% diarrhoea, 9.1% skin rash, while 2.0% had cough. About 31.8% of them attributed poor sanitation as a causal factor, 23.2% of the respondents associated water as a possible causal factor, while 44.9% did not attribute their health challenges to any causal factor. 52.0% purchase drugs from patent drug stores for treatment, 36.9% visit hospitals, while 11.1% patronize traditional doctors. Conclusion: Sanitation facilities and safe water supply are insufficient in Amassoma community. This along with hygienic practices led to the prevalence of common illnesses in the community. Poor sanitation and unhygienic practices are still widely practiced. The State and Local Government should provide adequate portable water and sanitation facilities in public places with emphasis on citizen advocacy in the area of health education campaign.