Geospatial Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Facilities among Households in Ife Central Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are essential to public health, yet household-level coverage may vary substantially within the same local government area. Aggregate survey statistics can describe overall coverage but may not reveal the geographic concentration of service gaps. This study assessed the spatial distribution of household WASH services in Ife Central Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, using geospatial techniques. A descriptive cross-sectional design was combined with spatial analysis. A multistage sample of 425 households, comprising 84 households in less-dense settlements and 341 in dense settlements, was selected using a fishnet-grid sampling framework developed from building-footprint imagery in ArcGIS 10.8. Geographic coordinates and facility attributes for household drinking-water sources, sanitation facilities, and handwashing stations were collected during field visits using KoboCollect, cleaned, and mapped in ArcGIS using the WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31N coordinate system. The results indicate marked spatial variation in WASH provision. Piped water into dwellings was the most frequently reported drinking-water source (40.9%), followed by protected wells (19.8%) and sachet water (13.2%). Sanitation was dominated by flush-to-piped-sewer systems (47.3%) and flush-to-septic-tank systems (30.4%), while handwashing facilities with water and soap accounted for 83.5% of the sample. However, unprotected wells, no sanitation facility/open defecation, open or unlined pit latrines, and water-only handwashing facilities were concentrated mainly within dense settlements. Spatial mapping also identified localised service deficiencies, including areas around Akarabata. Basic WASH facilities were comparatively scarce and were more evident in developed neighbourhoods and areas nearer road networks. The study demonstrates the value of geospatial analysis for identifying location-specific WASH inequities and provides a spatial evidence base for targeting improvements in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services in support of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Health and Environmental

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