Environmental and Public Health Impact of Poorsolid Waste Disposal in Kano Metropolis Nigeria

Abstract

Poor solid waste disposal is one of the major environmental and public health issues in Kano Metropolis, like in other cities in Nigeria and developing world at large. Poor solid wastes disposal pose threat to public health and environmental quality in the metropolis. The objective of this study was to examine the environmental and public health impact of poor solid waste disposal in Kano metropolis. The study was cross sectional descriptive studies, simple random sampling technique was applied to sample the study population, and structured questionnaire were designed, pretested and redistributed to participants. Secondary data sources were used. The result revealed that overall there were 554 households participated, with a response rate of 539 (98%). Demographic characteristics of respondents indicated 236 (44%) males, 303females (56%), marital status of the respondent indicated 198 (37%), were marriage, and other demographic characteristics. The result shows significant findings that relates to poor solid wastes disposal and the impact on environment and public health, 75% of household engaged in open mass dumping of solid wastes, other factors that contributes to poor solid waste disposal were observed and documents, distance to disposal sites, household storage of wastes, and poor separation of wastes. Over 77% households had perception about disease transmission from poor solid waste disposal. 53% had good knowledge about diseases related to solid waste disposal. Significant awareness as well as perception was good among the households but there is poor behavior in terms of effective management of solid waste, proper health education message dissemination must be enforced for better behavioral change by the relevant authorities.