Impact of Domestic Sewage Disposal in Residential Buildings on The Occupants in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the impact of domestic sewage disposal in residential buildings on occupants in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Six research questions and six corresponding hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 50,030 respondents, including 50,000 household heads and 30 environmental health officers across four local government areas in the metropolis. A sample size of 410 respondents (380 household heads and 30 environmental health officers) was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Impact of Domestic Sewage Disposal Questionnaire” (IDSDQ), developed from related literature and validated by three experts. A pilot test was conducted in Zaria Metropolis, and Cronbach’s Alpha yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.81, indicating the instrument was suitable for the study. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while Z-test statistics were used to test hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that 15 items (x̄ = 3.27) identified types of domestic sewage generated, 10 items (x̄ = 2.96) showed disposal methods used, 15 items (x̄ = 2.69) indicated factors influencing disposal practices, 21 items (x̄ = 3.01) highlighted environmental impacts, 20 items (x̄ = 3.04) showed health implications of improper disposal, and 20 items (x̄ = 2.91) outlined strategies for improving sewage management in Kaduna Metropolis. The study further revealed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) between the responses of household heads and environmental health officers across all variables investigated, including sewage types, disposal methods, influencing factors, environmental impacts, health implications, and improvement strategies. Based on the findings, it was recommended that environmental health authorities and local governments should intensify community sensitization programmes to educate residents on proper identification and handling of blackwater and greywater through community meetings, media campaigns, and collaboration with landlords’ associations.