Integrated Household Environmental Health Conditions and Their Independent Predictors in an Urban Nigerian Community: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Household water, sanitation, waste management, food hygiene and housing conditions interact to shape environmental health risks. This study assessed these domains together and identified independent predictors in an urban Nigerian community. A community-based cross-sectional survey included 747 adults responsible for household environmental practices in Uselu Community, Edo State. One ward and one geographical cluster were randomly selected, followed by complete household enumeration. An interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed perceived drinking-water quality and handling, refuse and sewage disposal, food-safety practices and housing conditions. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used. Favourable perceived drinking-water quality and handling was reported by 732 (98.0%) households, sanitary sewage disposal by 696 (93.2%), good food-safety practices by 658 (88.1%) and good housing conditions by 658 (88.1%). However, 266 (35.6%) practised insanitary refuse disposal. Females had higher odds of sanitary refuse disposal than males (aOR=2.23; 95% CI: 1.61-3.07), while low socioeconomic status was associated with lower odds (aOR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.30-0.90). Insanitary refuse disposal predicted lower odds of sanitary sewage disposal (aOR=0.26; 95% CI: 0.14-0.48) and good food-safety practices (aOR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.35-0.90). Most assessed conditions were favourable, but unsafe refuse disposal remained a substantial deficiency and clustered with poorer sanitation and food hygiene. Integrated, equity-oriented interventions should combine affordable waste services, sanitation, hygiene promotion and proportionate environmental enforcement. Interpretation should consider the cross-sectional design, self-reported measures and single-cluster sampling.