Influence of Socio-Economic Attributes of Water Vendors on Methods Adopted in Cleaning the Jerry Cans used for Water Delivery to Residents of Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Various health challenges have been reportedly associated with consumption of unclean water. Water vending is a well pronounced means of providing water for the residents of Dutse metropolis. This study investigates the influence of socio-economic attributes of water vendors (Mairuwas) on methods adopted in cleaning the jerry cans used for water delivery to residents of Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample eighty one (81) water vendors from whom information on the socio-economic attributes, sources of water, methods used in cleaning kegs and frequency of cleaning were collected using well-structured questionnaires. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that about half (49.4%) of the respondents are within the age category of 25-32 years of age, most (66.7%) were married with a mean household size of 5 members. Majority were Hausa (82.7%), Muslim (96.3%) and non-members of an association (82.2%). Majority (86.4%) had one form of education or the other and a mean year of experience of 5 years in water vending. The result also indicates that a sizeable proportion (43.2%) source water from mixed sources. Water and detergent was adopted by a sizeable proportion (42%) as the methods for cleaning. The result on the categorisation of method used in cleaning jerry cans showed that most (66.7%) of the vendors adopt the preferred method for cleaning. Most (50.6%) of the vendors agree to washing the jerry cans weekly. Significant relationship (P<0.05) existed between level of education, years of experience and methods adopted for jerry cans’ cleaning. Even though the majority of the water vendors interviewed in this study reportedly clean their jerry cans always, there is a need to enlighten them on most appropriate methods of washing with a view to ensuring the safety of the water supplied to the residents.

Keywords: Water vendors, water vending, jerry cans and water quality