Evaluation of Residents’ Perception of Design and Construction Factors of Public Housing Estates in Awka and Onitsha, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the occupants’ perception of design and construction factors of fourteen public housing estates in Awka and Onitsha cities in Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify and describe the public housing estates in these cities and to determine the perception of the occupants of the housing estates in the two cities on the design and construction of these public housing estates. A null hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between occupants’ perception on the design and construction of public housing in their various locations was formulated and tested. The theoretical basis of this study was hinged on Adams’ Equity Theory (Balancing   Inputs and Outputs) because it focused on determining whether the distribution of housing resources was fair to both relational partners (Occupants in Awka and Onitsha cities). This study utilized a survey research design in the collection of data. The universe of study consisted of 2,805 occupants comprising mainly households, and 2,805 housing units, 1,032 in Awka city and 1,773 in Onitsha city. The sample size of 30% (842) was used as derived from Taro Yamani technique. A stratified random sampling of these disparate public housing estates based on their proportion to population was studied.  A 20-item structured questionnaire on design and construction (QPH) was developed. This instrument was face and content validated. Cronbach Alpha Technique index was used for reliability test which gave a value of 0.90. The data were obtained by pulling all positive responses for each group of occupants (Awka or Onitsha) as positive responses and as negative responses and their proportions obtained and filled below pooled observations (counts). Undecided responses were left as neutral. Complete responses were 797 comprising 299 occupants in Awka and 498 occupants in Onitsha. The research questions were processed using percentages, means, chi-square, Contingency Table Analysis (CTA) and one way Categorical data analysis of variance (CATANOVA), while the hypotheses were tested by proportion of difference using Z-test. The major finding of the study was (1). That the proportion of occupants in Awka responding positively to design and construction factors of public housing is higher than the proportion responding positively in Onitsha. Hence, the inference is that occupants in Awka perceived this dimension of public housing more positively than occupants in Onitsha. This difference between the two cities needs to be addressed in order to validate the Adam’s equity requirements in the built environment. Also flexibility in design and construction of theses public housing estates suited the occupants as they were part of the design and construction processes.

Key terms: Evaluation, perception public housing, Nigeria