Assessing Environmental Sanitation in Peri-Urban Communities in The Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the prevailing environmental sanitation conditions with regard to access to water, water use, sanitation and access to toilets of households within the selected communities in the Tamale metropolis in Ghana. A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct the research. Data was gathered through the use of a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with some participating households. A total of 379 households participated in the study. Majority of households in the study had access to improved source of drinking water. Two-thirds of households had improved toilet facilities. Generally, households had good domestic environmental sanitation conditions but it also emerged that the households were deprived from full range of access to the most essential environmental sanitation services. Therefore, the inadequate level of service to the study area could be seen as opportunity for further focused improvements towards universal access to improved environmental sanitation