1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The issue of environmental health is a local, state, regional and national concern. As a result of man’s increase on population, his influence upon the environment and strive for survival has invariably neglected and unconsciously ensured the pollution of his environment.
Public latrines date back to the second century B.C and became quite popular with the Romans. The poor generally used pots, which they were supposed to empty into the sewer, or they visited public latrines.
Lord Amulree tells of an interesting anecdote: The site where Julies Ceasar was assassinated, the Hall of curia in the theatre of pompey, was turned into a public latrine due to the dishonor it had witnessed. The sewer system like a little stream or river, ran beneath, carrying the wastes away to the cloaca maxima, Amulree (1973).
The Romans recycled their waste water from the public baths by using it as part of the sewage that flowed under the latrines, serving as sort of a flushing system. Terra cotta piping was used in the plumbing that ran from the few homes that could afford it. The Romans were the first to seal pipes in concrete in order to resist the high water pressure developed in siphons and elsewhere. In addition, Romans employed special officials called Aediles in order to superice the sanitary systems in the cities since the fifth century B.C Stambaugh (1988).
WHO and UNICEF (2000) stated that public latrine has serious consequences to health. It can be easily seen on the example of illness like diarrhea that continues to be a major killer disease in the developing world, due to the fact that a rather basic problem of how to deal with excreta still remains unresolved.
According to WHO (2004) 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhea diseases including cholera of which 90% are children under the age of five, mostly in developing countries. Who also stated that an improved water supply reduces diarrhea morbidity 25% to 6%, if severe outcomes are included, whereas improved sanitation reduces diarrhea morbidity by 32%.
It is this vein that the united nations children fund (UNICEF) embarked on community led sanitation programme in selected communities to teach people the importance of sanitation especially in the area of defecating in open places; this is not unrelated to the lingering challenge of building health friendly toilets in every household, public places as well as offices.
It is gradually becoming a tradition that is a natural behaviour, to see men and even women openly urinating on walls of offices and homes, not minding the potential environmental hazard such an act has on residents in the environment.
Defeating and urinating in open or undesignated spots is a habit that must be discouraged in every society because it poses serious health risk to the populace and defies the benefit of sanitation.
Sanitation as a method of containment and sanitization of public latrine is of utmost importance as it prevents spread of diseases and protects both human and environmental health. The lack of care of public latrine is something that is very common in most communities because people lack awareness of the environmental implication the human lives. The recommendations will provide a very good data for the formulations of public latrine system and its problems in Awka capital.
Furthermore, it will stimulate planning for effective health education and proper environmental protection and management. It will also create more curiosity for understanding and solving the problems associated with public latrine systems in Awka and similar problems in other places of the state.
1.2. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS
It is obvious that the attention of government is directed towards solid waste disposal and evacuation, but public latrine system and its associated problems, which competes favourably with solid waste and pollution of our environment, causing most health hazards and infectious diseases is highly negleted.
The rate at which sources of drinking water is contaminated by siting latrines very close to wells and other water sources is alarming. Public latrine system and direct discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies leads to Entrophication, which causes death of acquatic lives.
This situation is also capable of propagating outbreak of endemic diseases like cholera, thereby depriving the inhabitants of the area of their sources of good drinking water. Public latrine system and is associated problems is really a serious problem that reads immediate attention because it constitutes health hazards if not properly managed.
It has been observed that during the era when bucket and bush “fresh style” toilet system were in vogue, death were common due to incessant out break of cholera and dysentery, which is as a result of contaminated food and drinking water. Smith (1979) said that clean and safe environment is one of the greatest assets one can give to his generation.
There has been a lot of write-up on public latrine system, but none has succinctly addressed the associated problems. This study will go a long way investigating the problems that are associated with public latrine.
One of the problems that are really disturbing in Awka is the insufficiency of toilet facilities. Both in compounds, hostels and public places, there are not enough latrines to serve the people. Talking about streets like Ndum, Oyeoka Onuorah Ichide and Olokwu streets, it is noticed that they suffer from lack of insufficient toilet facilities. As we go ahead in this study, we will look into proffering solutions to these problems.
1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of this study is to examine the problems associated with public latrine system in Awka capital territory with a view to developing a strategy for enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in Awka territory.
In order to achieve the stated goal, the following objectives are pursued:
1.5. STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS
Research hypothesis helps to give the study a sense of direction and guide of investigation. In view of this, the following hypothesis will be tested to ascertain their validities as regards the study on the problems of pubic latrine systems in Awka.
The following working hypothesis have been formulated for this study:
Ho: There is no significant relationship between outbreak of disease and public latrine system.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between outbreak of disease and public latrine system.
Ho: There is no need for the provisions of latrine in public places
Hi: There is need for the provision of latrines in public places.
1.6. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Though theoretical knowledge is crucial in providing a good foundation and better understanding in any academic research of importance, very little theories exists in latrine research. Musoke (2004), is of the view that until very recently most of the research and the resulting literature on the problems associated to latrine in host communities and the subsequent government policies on waste protection have been inspired and guided by the population theory by Thomas Maltus (1798) edited by James (1989) that population growth generally affect the natural resources of a country. He cited pressure on food as in example.
However, a counter thesis developed by Ester Boserup (1965) held a different view that population growth rather has a positive effect on agriculture, which brings host of socio-economic change of the community or the country in general. Many scholars who have based their work on either of the above thought had one way or the other tried to blame or exonerate latrine from all
blames. This study is based on the theory and concepts expounded by Werker (2001), Barth (1994) and Whitaker (2002) whose theories and concepts give room for both negative and positive impacts of latrines presence on host communities on my work associated problems with the use of public latrine.
1.7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study will identify the various environmental problems in public citrine system and its associated problems is Awka capital territory and examine the health implication of public latrine system. This is done through visiting public compounds, market places, schools, churches etc to ensure a wide coverage within the limited time and resources available for this work. Data for this study will be obtained from a sample of occupants through oral interview and questionnaire.
It also entails the issue on how to enlighten the public on the use and maintenance of public latrines. Delimitation might cut across the problem of going from street to street making campaign for this.
1.8. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will serve as an avenue to enlighten the masses especially the inhabitants of Awka on the proper handling of public latrine system and its associated problems. It will go along way to teaching those in town and even go as far as the villages, making sure every inhabitants is taught on the importance of taking good care of their toilets both in their homes and in public places. The findings and recommendations will provide a very good data for the formulation of public latrine system and its associated problems in Awka capital territory.
Furthermore, it will stimulate planning for effective health education and proper environmental protection and management.
This work will arouse more curiosity for understanding and solving the problems associated with public latrine system in Awka and similar problems in other places of the state.
1.9. LIMITATION AND CONSTRAIN OF THE STUDY
There is virtually no research without obstacles. This work which has a link in environmental health demand much attention. There are many environmental sanitation problems, but this study is restricted to public latrine system and its problems in Awka. Limitation include insufficient data, lack of time and finance to enable smooth running of the research. This study might be limited to the findings of little data obtained; not withstanding the validity of the study remains unaffected as valid findings were made.
1.10. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
Here, we try to define every word that is associated with the topic inorder to understand the topic properly and to further give appropriate solutions to the problem.
Public: It is a word for, of, or known to people in general. It is provided to address the state or government in general rather than an independent individual.
Latrine: Latrine is a communal toilet in a camp or barrack as well as public compounds where people resides.
System: A set of things working together as a mechanism or network. It is an organized scheme or method of orderliness.
Problem: Something difficult to deal with or understand.
Associated: A group of people organized for a joint purpose. A connection or link.