Abstract

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This study assessed the awareness and availability of UNICEF Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) towards eradicating open defecation among communities in Gombe State, Nigeria.. Specifically, the study assessed the level of awareness of communities about UNICEF WASH activities towards eradication of open defaecation as well as the availability of UNICEF WASH facilities in communities towards eradication of open defaecation. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population for this study was 3,871,179 human habitats of Gombe State Nigeria. The sample size of 783 was selected using multistage sampling procedures of stratified, simple random and proportionate sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire by the researcher. Descriptive statistics of frequency, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data collected. The result revealed that there was significant awareness of UNICEF WASH activities towards the eradication of open defaecation among communities in Gombe State, Nigeria (t = 153.845, p = 0.000); there was no significant availability of UNICEF WASH facilities (t =1.621; p = 0.71). Based on the findings, the study concluded that community members in Gombe State, Nigeria are aware of UNICEF WASH activities towards the eradication of open defaecation; UNICEF WASH facilities towards the eradication of open defaecation are not available and the available ones are not utilized; The study recommends among others the need to enhance the awareness of UNICEF WASH activities for open defaecation eradication among community members and the need to address the factors contributing to non-compliance with UNICEF WASH campaigns against open defaecation which includes improving water supply infrastructure, and rehabilitation and maintenance of latrines to ensure they remain functional and sanitary.

Keywords: UNICEF, WASH, Open Defaecation