Abstract
Despite all the efforts of government at all levels in Rivers State to mitigate against open defecation, the practice of open defection (OD) has persisted especially in Gokana LGA of the state. Because of this ugly situation, the researchers embarked on the present study to determine the public health problems arising from open defecation practice. The study employed cross sectional survey design. The population was 129,686 residents and a sample of 398 drown through multistage sampling technique involving three stages. In each stage, random sampling of balloting without replacement was adopted. Structured questionnaire validated by experts was the instrument for data collection. Its reliability was established using test-re-test method, and the generated data from it were subjected to Persons Product Moment statistics which gave a reliability coefficient of 0.78 which was considered adequate for the study. The questionnaire was administered to respondents face to face by the researchers and trained research assistants who helped to reach the respondents in their various wards. Data generated were analyzed using percentages, mean and stand deviation to answer the reach questions, while ANOVA and t-test were used to test the hypotheses. The results revealed the following public health problems of open defecate: contamination of agricultural products; stunted growth among children; giardiasis; increased water borne diseases; environment pollution and contamination; and water & vector borne diseases. The study also revealed that residents with non-formal, primary, secondary and tertiary education had good perception of the health problems of OD. They also showed no significant difference in their perception of public health risks/problems by level of education. Further, the result showed that respondents of different occupations had good perception of the public health risks/problems of OD. Inferential statistics revealed a significant relationship between level of perception of public health problems of OD by occupation. It was recommended that the campaign against OD in Rivers State especially Gokana LGA should be intensified. Adequate laws with appropriate sanctions be imposed on offenders.