Housing Conditions and Health Implications on Residents of Makurdi Town, Benue State, Nigeria

Issue (Month/Year): (11 – 2021)
Publication Date: 30-11-2021
Subject: Environmental Law and Policy
Author’s Details: Asen, J. M.
Co-author’s Details: Ekpenyong, B. N, Okon, A. J..

Abstract 

Human health status is determined by several factors one of which is housing conditions. Features of housing may determine the physical, social and mental well-being of residents. More than 100 million people globally are without homes while over a billion live in homes that are not only inadequate but are also harmful to health. This study determined the health implications of housing conditions on residents of Makurdi Town, Benue State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional study design was adopted for the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 400 respondents. Primary data were obtained using semi-structured, self administered questionnaire. Chi-square analysis was used to express relationships between housing conditions and reported health problems. The findings of this study indicated that most (65.5%) of the respondents did not renovate their houses. Pour flush toilets were the prevalent faecal disposal facility (58.6%) of the respondents. Major source of water for household use was hand dug wells (51.2%). Most (59.3%) of the respondents practised open dumping of refuse. Malaria fever (66.5%) was the prevailing health challenge among the residents. Statistically significant associations existed between variables such as common vectors, occupancy per room, sources of water, place where food is cooked and sources of heat for cooking and reported common health problems at P= 0.000, 0.013, 0.003, 0.022, and 0.002 respectively at significant level of P<0.05. This study concludes that housing conditions have health implications on the residents. Routine public enlightenment on the health implications of housing conditions on health is thus encouraged.

 

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