An Assessment of Health Implications of Waste Disposal Practices on Residents of Mararaba Community, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State

Abstract

This study examined the health implications of waste disposal practices on residents of the Mararaba community in Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study aimed to assess the health implications associated with improper waste disposal practices among residents. A quantitative survey research design was adopted, employing multi-stage and systematic sampling techniques. A total of 400 respondents were selected using Taro Yamane's formula at a 5% margin of error. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), regression analysis, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that plastic and organic waste were the most common types of waste generated, while open dumping, burning, and drainage disposal were the predominant disposal methods. Reliability analysis showed acceptable to excellent internal consistency across all study constructs, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.90. The ANOVA results indicated that the regression model was statistically significant (F = 224.256, p < 0.001), confirming that waste-related factors jointly influence public health outcomes. Regression analysis further revealed that types and sources of waste (β = -0.245, p < 0.001), waste disposal practices (β = -0.198, p < 0.001), and public health implications (β = -0.271, p < 0.001) had significant negative effects on public health outcomes, while waste management systems and policies (β = 0.709, p < 0.001) had a strong positive effect and emerged as the most influential predictor. The study concludes that improper waste disposal significantly contributes to environmental pollution and public health challenges in the Mararaba area, particularly through the increased prevalence of malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, and other sanitation-related diseases.