Assessment of the impact of abattoir effluent on the quality of groundwater in a residential area of Omu‑Aran, Nigeria

Background: Water pollution from abattoir effluents may create substantial environmental and public health hazards. Available literature is scanty on the quality of groundwater located near abattoirs in tropical developing countries like Nigeria. This study, therefore, accessed the impact of abattoir activities on the quality of groundwater in Omu-Aran Nigeria. Methods: A total of eighteen water samples were taken from five privately own wells and one control well located at varying distances and elevations to the abattoir. The physicochemical characteristics of the water were determined using the standard methods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Results: The mean values of parameters in the water samples collected from the studied wells ranged from 5.80 ± 0.20 to 7.23 ± 0.55 mg/L, 12.0 ± 1.0 to 26.0 ± 2.0 mg/L, 0.06 ± 0.02 to 0.16 ± 0.02 mg/L and 208.0 ± 24.25 to 254.67 ± 12.22 cfu/mL for dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, lead and total coliforms, respectively. There was a significant difference in the quality of water from the studied and control wells in the parameters except that of total coliform. The quality of the groundwater improved with increasing distance from the abattoir. Conclusions: Findings revealed that abattoirs have the potential to impact the quality of groundwater. Therefore, careful consideration is required when choosing a location for siting new abattoirs. For existing ones, particularly those close to residential areas, effective pollution control measures should be put in place to protect groundwater

Drinking water quality and handling practices among women in rural households of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Diarrheal diseases associated with inadequate supply of potable water are the leading causes of mortality among children under five years in developing countries. In Nigeria, women are the water managers in most households. However, there is dearth of information on the effect of women’s handling practices on drinking water quality. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the drinking water quality and handling practices among women in selected rural households in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Paired drinking water samples from available sources and Household Storage Containers (HSC) were assessed for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters using standard methods. The data obtained were compared with the WHO guideline limits. Water samples with 0, 1-10, 11-50 and > 50 E. coli/100 mL were graded as A, B, C, and D corresponding to excellent, acceptable, unacceptable, and grossly polluted quality, respectively. Pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. A 30-point scale was used to assess water handling practices. Handling practice scores greater or equal to mean handling practice score were grouped into good and those less than that were grouped into bad handling practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and One-way ANOVA at α = 0.05. The results showed physico-chemical parameters for both sources and households within WHO guideline limits. The mean total coliform counts for all sources and household containers exceeded permissible limits. E. coli  was not detected in harvested rain water while counts for borehole was 10.2 ±2.2 (A) and for stream sources was 44.6±33.3 EC/100 mL (B); drinking water stored in HSC had 36.8±32.3 (A) EC/100 mL, borehole had 62.31±33.2 (C) and stream had 30.00±33.2 (B). Mean handling practice score was 19.4+6.6. Majority (60.0%) practiced some water handling technique. Drinking water from assessed sources was of poor microbial quality and it significantly deteriorated when stored in household storage containers. Therefore, there is a need to improve the microbial quality of drinking water at sources and household level through the supply of simple, acceptable, low-cost treatment methods and hygiene education

Occurrence of bisphenol A, nonylphenol, octylphenol and heavy metals in groundwater from selected communities in Ibadan, Nigeria

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) such as bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP) and heavy metals in drinking water supply represent a significant threat to human health. In Nigeria, little is known about the presence of EDs in various environmental media. This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of BPA, NP and OP in groundwater samples from selected communities in Ibadan, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from 30 different sites (26 hand-dug wells, 2 boreholes and 2 spring water sources), 15 from each of Ibadan North-West (IbNW) and Ido Local Government Area (LGA). Samples were collected in triplicate from all the sampling points and analysed for BPA, NP, OP and physicochemical parameters (including heavy metals) using a standard procedure. Bisphenol A and octylphenol were not detected in any samples, while NP was detected in spring water and the concentration (0.00279 mg/L) was less than the maximum allowable limit (0.015 mg/L). All (100.0%) boreholes in IbNW and 100.0% of the springs in Ido LGA showed iron concentrations that exceeded the permissible limit. There is a need for public awareness on the health risk of EDs in drinking water supply and appropriate preventive measures to be adopted. HIGHLIGHTS Bisphenol A and octylphenol were not detected in any of the 30 sites examined.; Nonylphenol was detected in a spring water supply at a level below the maximum allowable limit.; Lead was not detected while manganese was detected at varying concentrations.; The occurrence of EDs was confirmed, albeit in low concentration, for nonylphenol.

Association between household environmental conditions and nutritional status of women of childbearing age in Nigeria.

Maternal undernutrition remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Yet, most interventional programmes are focused on infant and child nutrition outcomes and not on maternal nutrition-related outcomes. Evidence suggests that the integration of household environmental interventions into nutrition actions can make a difference in reducing the burden of maternal undernutrition. This study examined the influence of household environmental conditions (HHEC) on the nutritional status of women of childbearing age in Nigeria using secondary data from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. The original sample of 38,948 women age 15-49 years was selected using multi-stage probability sampling. The sample for the current analysis was 23,344 after exclusion of women due to health status or provision of incomplete information. The dependent and main independent variables were undernutrition (defined as Body Mass Index below 18.5) and HHEC (generated from cooking fuel, toilet type, source of drinking water, and housing materials) respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistic regression model at 5% level of significance. The prevalence of undernutrition among women living in houses with unimproved and improved HHEC was 17.2% and 7.2% respectively. The adjusted odds of undernutrition was significantly higher among women who lived in houses with unimproved HHEC (aOR = 2.02, C.I = 1.37-2.97, p <0.001). The odds of undernutrition are greater in young women (aOR = 2.38, C.I. = 1.88-3.00, p <0.001) compared to older, and those of lower wealth status (aOR = 2.14, CI = 1.69-2.71, p <0.001) compared to higher. Other predictors of undernutrition in women of reproductive age in Nigeria include the level of education, marital status, and working status. Living in a house with unimproved environmental conditions is a predictor of undernutrition in women. The integration of environmental and nutrition programmes could assist in addressing this burden in Nigeria

School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Inequalities: A Bane of Sustainable Development Goal Six In Nigeria

Objectives: The importance of school water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.1 and 6.2 in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. However, widespread WASH inequalities remain an impediment to achieving the targets by 2030. Hence, this study was conducted to examine current school-WASH disparities among public and private schools in a low-income Nigerian community using mixed methods. Methods: The cross-sectional survey utilized multi-stage sampling to select 400 students from five public and five private schools in Akinyele, Ibadan. Semi-structured questionnaires and observational checklists were used to obtain data. Inferential statistics were measured at a 95% confidence interval. Independent variables like the students’ sociodemographic characteristics, school type, and available WASH facilities were associated with dependent variables like respondents’ hand hygiene and sanitation practices and WASH-associated knowledge and attitude to examine existing inequalities. Results: Classifying the available WASH facilities based on the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, none of the public schools provided any sanitation and hygiene service, while all the private schools provided both services. Furthermore, the private-school students had significantly better WASH knowledge (p\u3c0.001; Ƞ2p=0.152) and attitude (p\u3c0.001; Ƞ2p=0.036) compared with the public-school students. Also, a significantly higher portion of public-school students practiced open defecation at school (p\u3c0.001; odds ratio (OR)=7.4; confidence interval (CI)=4.1–13.5) and at home (p\u3c0.001; OR=7.8; CI=3.7–16.7). Conclusion: WASH disparities among socioeconomic groups remain a persistent challenge. Sole reliance on the Government to narrow the inequalities has persistently proven unfruitful. There is a need to empower local community stakeholders to facilitate sustainable school-WASH interventions

School water, sanitation, and hygiene inequalities: a bane of sustainable development goal six in Nigeria

Objectives The importance of school water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.1 and 6.2 in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. However, widespread WASH inequalities remain an impediment to achieving the targets by 2030. Hence, this study was conducted to examine current school-WASH disparities among public and private schools in a low-income Nigerian community using mixed methods. Methods The cross-sectional survey utilized multi-stage sampling to select 400 students from five public and five private schools in Akinyele, Ibadan. Semi-structured questionnaires and observational checklists were used to obtain data. Inferential statistics were measured at a 95% confidence interval. Independent variables like the students’ sociodemographic characteristics, school type, and available WASH facilities were associated with dependent variables like respondents’ hand hygiene and sanitation practices and WASH-associated knowledge and attitude to examine existing inequalities. Results Classifying the available WASH facilities based on the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, none of the public schools provided any sanitation and hygiene service, while all the private schools provided both services. Furthermore, the private-school students had significantly better WASH knowledge (p Conclusion WASH disparities among socioeconomic groups remain a persistent challenge. Sole reliance on the Government to narrow the inequalities has persistently proven unfruitful. There is a need to empower local community stakeholders to facilitate sustainable school-WASH interventions.Other Information Published in: Canadian Journal of Public Health License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00633-9</p