Sanitary Practices and Waste Management among Beggars in Ilorin Metropolis

Background: Good sanitation and hygiene are prerequisites for economic development and health. Sanitary practices among beggars within Ilorin is becoming a challenge and is being explored. This study was quantitative and qualitative regarding the employed approach for the case study as a research design. Methods: 200 beggars across the three local government areas that made up the metropolis were randomly selected for the interview. The data were analyzed using statistical tools and results were measured against key sanitary metrics. Results: 200 beggars were enrolled, comprising 133 (66.5%) males. 71 respondents (35.5%) had no access to toilet facilities. The remaining 129 (64.5 %) had a shared one toilet seat for households between 15-20 people. 106 (53%) of the respondents resort to urinating or defecating in the open drains. The women use a can or polythene for urine or feces before disposing to open drains, resulting in foul-smelling environments. Contributing to unsanitary practices were attitude, ignorance, and poor educational background, 135 (67.5%) never attended school. Conclusion: The need for intensive public education, providing basic sanitary facilities, and strengthening and enforcement of the existing environmental sanitation bye-laws to make every individual responsible for good environmental sanitation in the metropolis were recommended.