Household environment and infant morbidity: a situation analysis of slum areas of Lagos state

Olasupo P. Ogunjuyigbe, Obafemi Awolowo University
Gbemiga E. Adeyemi, Lagos State University
Ebenezer Ojofeitimi, Obafemi Awolowo University

This article examines the environmental situation of people residing in slum areas of Lagos state and the impactions of their living conditions for childhood diseases and mortality. Data were obtained from a survey of 1500 women aged 15-45 years selected from three local government areas of the state. The paper reveals that: (i) about half of the sample resides in environment with stagnant gutter (ii) the commonest childhood illness as mentioned by more than 50 percent of the sample was malaria followed by diarrhoea (35 percent). The multivariate analyses show that the odds of childhood morbidity were significantly higher among respondents using stagnant gutter and open drainage (1.3 and 0.6 respectively). Appropriate information, education and communication programme should therefore be embarked upon to encourage people living in this and similar environment to maintain good and healthy environment.