KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PRACTICES AMONG RESIDENTS OF YENAGOA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE

This study examined the knowledge, attitude and environmental sanitation practices among residents of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. A descriptive cross sectional survey design was adopted for this study. The population of this study was 239, 200 with a sample size of 440 residents using Yaro Yamene method. A multi-stage sampling procedure was implemented for the study in two stages. The instrument for collection of data was a self-structured questionnaire titled the Knowledge and Environmental Sanitation Practices Questionnaire (KESPQ). The validated instrument was considered reliable as the reliability coefficient of 0.84 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Data collected was analysed using Statistical Products for Service Solutions (SPSS) version 27.0. The result showed that more of the respondents 301(71.2%) had good knowledge of environmental sanitation in Yenagoa LGA. The result of the overall score showed that 378(89.4%) had positive attitude while 45(10.6%) had negative attitude towards environmental sanitation. The result of the overall score showed that 395(93.4%) had good level of practice while 28(6.6%) had poor level of practice. Thus, the level of environmental sanitation practice among residents was good. The result showed that there was no statistically significant association between gender, educational level, socioeconomic status and knowledge of environmental sanitation as p>0.05 (p=0.08). The result showed that there was a statistically significant association between educational level and attitude towards environmental sanitation as p<0.05 (p = 0.02).  The result showed that there was a statistically significant association between gender and attitude towards environmental sanitation as p<0.05 (p = 0.02). The result showed that there was no statistically significant association between socioeconomic status, educational level and attitude towards environmental sanitation as p>0.05 (p = 0.36 & p=0.27). The result showed that there was a statistically significant association between gender and attitude towards environmental sanitation as p<0.05 (p = 0.00). The result also showed that there was a statistically significant association between socioeconomic status and practice environmental sanitation as p<0.05 (p = 0.00).  It was concluded that residents had good knowledge, attitude and environmental sanitation practices. The increase in knowledge, positive attitude and practices of environmental sanitation varied in gender, socioeconomic status, educational level The result of this study also concluded that demographic variables were associated affecting with environmental sanitation practice. This study recommended among others that community leaders and stakeholders should mobilize the members of the community to practice good sanitation activities such weekly or monthly sanitation programs.