PATTERN OF UTILIZATION OF TOILET FACILITIES IN THE HALLS OF RESIDENCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Abstract

An understanding of the pattern of toilet utilization among undergraduate students is very important, as it could be predictive and protective of their social and health safety in the academic environment. While the demand for higher learning in the tertiary institution continues to increase, very little attention is given to the improvement of social amenities like toilets facilities in most Universities in Nigeria. Most existing literatures and health interventions focuses on the primary and secondary school students neglecting the students of tertiary institution where enrollment is on the increase yearly. This study was therefore designed to investigate the pattern of utilization of toilet facilities in the hall of residence among undergraduate students of University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 422 respondents from the 10 halls of residence for the undergraduate students of the University. Data was collected using a pretested semistructured questionnaire which contained a 9-point attitude scale and observational checklist that was used to observe the physical conditions, availability and functionality of selected toilets. Scores <5 and ≥ 5 were rated as negative and positive attitudes respectively. Data collected using the observational checklists were analyzed using descriptive statistics of bar charts. Age of respondents ranged from 16 to 36 years with a mean of 20.3 ± 3.0 years, 46.1% fell between the 16 to 19 years age group and 60.2% were males. Majority (67.4%) of the respondents used the toilets in the halls only once in a day while 57.8% of the respondents used water and soap to wash their hands after using the toilets. Very few of them (21.9%) contributed voluntarily to the maintenance of the toilets in the various halls of residence. Most (94.3%) respondents agreed that they go to other toilets apart from the toilets in their block. More than half (58.1%) disagreed that facilities were sufficient while majority (63.3%), also agreed that poor maintenance and dilapidated nature of the toilet facilities were factors influencing utilization of toilet facilities in the halls of residence. Majority (79.9%) disagreed that the management responds in good time to fix broken down facilities. Physical observation of these facilities revealed that they are fairly good in three out of the ten halls and in

state of dis-repair in, seven out of the ten halls, 68.0% of toilets observed using the checklist were unflushed producing foul smell throughout the days of the study, 74.0% of the toilets surveyed does not have tap running water connected to them. Overall, 60.2% respondents have positive attitude and the mean attitudinal score was 4.76 ± 1.6. Sex and appropriateness were found to be significantly associated with attitude of respondents. Health education programmes, behavior change communications, campaign awareness through extra-curricular activities and prompt response in upgrading of the existing toilet facilities are recommended.