SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS PRACTICED BY INHABITANTS OF A TYPICAL NIGERIAN RURAL COMMUNITY.

Interactions between man and his environment have led to generation of wastes that pose problem of management and disposal. Failure to adopt appropriate disposal methods is followed by risk of infectious diseases. This study reports a survey involving a sample of 300 respondents drawn from a population of 3,427 rural inhabitants using the cluster sampling procedure. Two research questions were raised for the study that aimed to determine the solid waste disposal practices of typical Nigerian rural inhabitants. Instrument for data collection was the questionnaire designed by the researchers and contained 4 response options and used to elicit information from the respondents through interview schedule. Validity of the instruments was established through the judgment of three health educators and the reliability index value yielded 0.86 using the split half method and Spearman Brown correlation statistic. Data was analyzed on item-by-item basis using mean. It was found that the respondents disposed their refuse using all the refuse disposal methods highlighted by the researcher, but the once used very often by the rural inhabitants were open or uncontrolled burning, indiscriminate dumping on the ground and in the river. Implications of the practice for human health were articulated. The researchers recommended among other things that rural health extension workers should increase their enlightenment of the inhabitants on the need to adopt proper and suitable waste disposal methods.