Perception of mothers on environmental risk factors for childhood diseases in Kebbi State of Nigeria

Background: This study examined the perception of mothers on environmental risk factors for childhood diseases in Kebbi State of Nigeria. The study adopted the Environment-Agent-Host chain of germ theory. Methods: The study employed the cross-sectional survey research design. The household constituted the unit of analysis. Data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents such as mother's educational attainment, income, occupation, marital status and religion as well as data on environmental risk factors of inhabitants were obtained using structured and semi-structured questionnaires and multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select respondents. Koko-Bese and Yauri LGA were sampled for the study and five of the 15 wards were sampled using the 2006 census locality and enumeration area list. Using table of random numbers 47 women aged 15-49 years for Yauri and Koko/Besse were selected. Tabulation involving frequencies and percentage was employed to analyze the socio-economic characteristics and environmental risk factors of women. Chi square was use ascertain dependency of child's death on as mother's educational attainment, income, occupation and marital status. Results: Findings show that incidences of childhood diseases were linked to mothers' age, education, income, social and religious affiliation in Kebbi State. The critical environmental risk factors for childhood diseases were food contamination, indoor and outdoor air pollution. Poor water sources, poor hygiene of water storage containers, unreliable methods of purification and treatment of water, and poor toilet facilities increase the risk of transmitting childhood diseases. Poor waste disposal, water pollution, climate change, use of pesticides, housing type/quality and community housing facilities were perceived as not conspicuous environmental risk factors to childhood diseases in Kebbi State. All null hypotheses postulated in this study were accepted meaning that mother's age, educational level, occupation, average monthly income, ethnic group, marital status are independent of the child's cause of death as seen from the samples. Conclusion: There is need to create awareness on environmental risk factors of childhood diseases through radio programmes and through community health workers in Kebbi State. There is a strong need for improving existing quality of health/sanitation with particular reference to environment risk factors of childhood diseases by conveying such concern to the stakeholders and policy makers in Kebbi State