Evaluation of Sanitation Conditions and Open Defecation in Informal Settlements of Maiduguri, Borno State

This study evaluates sanitation conditions and the prevalence of open defecation in informal settlements hosting internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria. Maiduguri has received hundreds of thousands of IDPs displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, and the sanitation infrastructure of host informal settlements has been overwhelmed, creating acute public health risks. Structured observations and household interviews were conducted in six informal settlements within Konduga and Jere Local Government Areas. Data collected include latrine type, occupancy ratio per latrine, latrine functionality and cleanliness, open defecation prevalence, and handwashing facility availability. Results show that the average latrine-to-household ratio is 1:12, far exceeding the Sphere humanitarian standard of 1:20 shared facilities, and a significant proportion of existing latrines are filled or structurally collapsed. Open defecation is practised by at least one household member in 58 percent of surveyed households, with children under ten the most frequently observed outdoor defecators. Handwashing facilities are present at only 21 percent of latrines, and soap availability is limited. Sanitation conditions in female sections of the settlements are markedly worse than in male-accessible areas. The study links existing sanitation conditions to elevated reported diarrhoeal disease incidence. Recommendations include a targeted emergency latrine construction and desludging programme, community-led total sanitation promotion specific to the IDP context, and integration of sanitation into humanitarian response plans. Keywords: sanitation, open defecation, IDP settlements, Maiduguri, humanitarian engineering.