AN ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC WATER FACILITIES IN RURAL AREAS OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates public water facilities in Rural Areas of Oyo State. Multistage sampling was used to select 144 respondents from 3 Rural Local Governments in Oyo State. The availability, conditions, access, frequency of use of public water facilities, the extent, to which public water facilities aid the use of other infrastructural facilities, and constraints limiting the use of public water facilities were measured with structured interview schedule guides. Data collected were described using frequency counts, percentages, means and illustrative data representations. The study revealed that, while public water facilities were available to most of the respondents, there were wide gaps in the access to these facilities and the extent of use of the water facilities. Furthermore, less than half of the respondents had their public water facilities in good working condition. 87.5 % of respondents adjudged public water to aid and complement the use of health facilities, making health facilities the highest ranked infrastructural facility that cannot function without accessible water. The study revealed that irregular access of respondents to water facilities was due to its far distance from their homes, amongst other constraints. The study recommends that women, who are the primary users of these facilities, should be involved in the planning process of setting up these facilities especially in deciding strategic locations. Furthermore, single infrastructural facilities should not be provided in isolation, other facilities that will aid its use should be put in place.