Assessment of Environmental Health Conditions in Informal Settlements in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria

Informal urban settlements, characterized by overcrowding, substandard housing, and inadequate infrastructure, present complex environmental health challenges in rapidly growing Nigerian cities. This cross-sectional study assessed environmental health conditions in three informal settlements in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A random sample of 380 households was surveyed using structured questionnaires covering housing conditions, water supply, sanitation, refuse management, and self-reported health outcomes. Physical observation of settlement conditions was conducted using validated environmental health assessment checklists. Results showed that sixty-seven percent of households relied on shared toilet facilities with an average user ratio of 1:30. Borehole water was the primary source for fifty-three percent of households, while seventeen percent relied on open wells and purchased sachet water. Structural housing deficiencies including overcrowding (more than three persons per room) were documented in seventy-one percent of homes. Refuse management was highly inadequate, with unauthorized dump sites identified in ninety-two percent of assessed settlements. The prevalence of childhood diarrhea, malaria, and respiratory infections was significantly higher in surveyed settlements than in the general Ibadan population. Proximity to open drains was the strongest environmental predictor of malaria risk. The study recommends integrated urban upgrading programs that simultaneously address housing, water, sanitation, and solid waste management in informal settlements. Keywords: informal settlements, urban health, Ibadan, WASH, housing conditions.