Ojide R.N.*, Ekengwu B.A.*, Njoku P.N.*, Ugwuoke A.C.*.Erietta O.E.*, Gbaduo C.*

^*Department of Public Health, Madonna University Nigeria, Elele, River State

^**Department of health Promotion and Health Education

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra State

Abstract

Poor maintenance of environment is becoming a major threat to the health of households leading to breeding grounds for diseases, discharge of poisonous substances and air pollution. This study determined environmental sanitation practices among heads of households in Enugu South Local Government Area. The study was guided by four research questions and three hypotheses. The study employed descriptive survey research design.   The population of this study was 254,200 heads of households and 400 participated in the study. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select the participants. Structured questionnaire titled: Environmental Sanitation Practices Questionnaire (ESPQ) (r=0.84) was used as instrument for data collection.  Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics. Results showed that heads of household had poor level of environmental sanitation practices (2.29±0.25). Heads of household male (2.220±0.32), female (2.25±0.29),18-30years (2.22±0.33), 31-35years ((2.24±0.25), 36years and above (2.20±0.01), none formal education (2.16±0.33), primary education (2.20±0.29), secondary (2.29±0.31),  tertiary education (2.25±0.31), civil servants (2.14±0.33), traders (2.27±0.27), artisan (2.21±0.34) and housewife (2.24±0.27) had poor environmental sanitation practices. There was no significant differences in the level of environmental sanitation practices based gender (t-val=1.647, P=0.100) and age (F-val=0.594, P=0.553) but significant differences exist based on level of education (F-val=3.057, P=0.025) and occupation (F-val=3.199, P=0.023). The study concluded that heads of household in Enugu South LGAs had poor environmental sanitation practices. The study therefore, recommended among others that professional bodies like School Health Educators and Professionals Association in Nigeria in collaboration with Ministry of Environment in Enugu State should plan programames and interventions to create awareness on the need to practice good environmental sanitation among heads of household.