A candle in the wind: An assessment of sanitation behavior among students of tertiary educational institutions in southwest Nigeria

This article examined sanitation behaviour among students’ of tertiary education institutions in southwest Nigeria. The study surveyed the behaviour of the students in the residential hostels across gender differences. A total of 125 students were selected for the survey using a systematic sampling technique. The study revealed that the majority 194 (96.8%) were below 28 years of age. Findings revealed that the number of occupants in a student room was higher than the number of students allocated to the room. Due to overpopulation in rooms within the hostels, the available sanitary installations are overstretched. The study found that the average per capita use of toilets and bathrooms in male and female hostels was 27 and 21 students respectively. The study reports on poor sanitation behaviour among the students in terms of washing of hands after defecation, hand cleaning materials used by the student after using the toilet, flushing the toilet after use, sanitary alternatives when the toilet is in a bad condition and cleaning of students’ rooms. It recommends a mind-set reorientation for the students about adequate sanitary behaviour through effective sanitation education and provision of adequate sanitary amenities to cater for the students residing in the hostels. The findings of this study will have implications for effective policy making on sanitation behaviour among students in tertiary education institutions with a similar background.