WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS AND HEALTH STATUS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN POST COVID-19 ERA

Abstract

The study investigated Waste Disposal Methods and Health Status of Households in Uyo Local Government
Area in Post Covid-19 Era. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. Descriptive survey
research design was adopted in the study. The population comprised of 1,265,000 people made up of all
residents in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A sample size of 400 respondents was drawn
using Taro Yamane sampling formula and used to collect data for the study. Stratified and simple random
sampling techniques were employed to select the respondents. A structured questionnaire titled: Waste
Disposal Methods and Health Status of Households Questionnaire (WDMHSHQ) was used for data
collection. The content of the instrument was validated by three experts in cognate disciplines all in
University of Uyo. Cronbach Alpha statistical analysis was used to determine the internal consistency of the
instrument and the analysis yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.79. Data collected was analysed using Mean
and Standard Deviation. Findings revealed that burning of wastes (cluster mean = 3. 49), dumping of wastes
(cluster mean = 3.50) and compost wastes (cluster mean = 3.38) all had negative effect on the health status
of households in Uyo Local Government Area in the Post Covid-19 Era with varying cluster mean values
and standard deviation. Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that waste disposal methods have
negative effect on health status of households in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State in the post
covid-19 Era and therefore recommend amongst others that households should engage more in the compost
wastes disposal method as it has less negative effect on the health status of households in the study area