ABSTRACT
This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the community's knowledge of the relationship between excreta disposal and health, their sanitary practices regarding excreta disposal as well as factors militating against public latrine utilization in Makurdi town of Benue State, Nigeria. Four hundred and thirty-three (4?3) respondents answered a questiommaire each, four focus group discussions were conducted, one each with young men, older men, young women, and older women, and an inspection of some public latrines was done. A mini survery was also undertaken to take a window view of the magnitude of the intestinal parasitic infections rate in the town. Knowledge of the harmful effects of human excreta exposure is high, inspite of this, only 19.2% of premises sampled had latrine/toilet facilities, and another 16% of those without latrines use their neighbours. Open field defaecation is rampant, 22% (in the bush, gutter, refuse dumps). Public latrines are not, or only poorly utilized because the respondents are ignorant of their existence and even those aware of their existence find them repulsive due to lack of maintenance. Respondents are even willing to pay to use public latrines that meet their standard (81%). Suggested locations for such latrines include markets, motoi parks, high population density areas etc. Public latrine use can be improved if the above measures are put in place and the people educated on the dangers of indiscriminate defaecation as well as the availability of public sanitary facilities in the town. Public latrines planned and implemented along these lines could also encourage individual household demand for similar facilities thereby further improving the excreta disposal system. A beneficial fall out of this will be the elimination of, not just intestinal parasitoses but, many other enteric infections as well.