Abstract

In most cases in Plateau State, water was got from sources closest to the user irrespective of its quality. Moreover, when fetched water was mixed with stored one, it was perceived as positive water hygiene attitude-WHA which was troubling and pointed to a problem among others. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the demographic pattern of WHA among women who attendedantenatal care-ANC in Plateau State-Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of the study, the WHA of women who attended ANC in Plateau State was determined using a research question and hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population for the study consisted of 150,913 (all the women who attended ANC in Plateau State in 2014). The sample size for the study was 642 drawn from the population using multi stage sampling procedure. One instrument, water hygiene attitude questionnaire (WaHAQ) used for the study was validated and theCronbach Alpha coefficient (r) of.91 wasobtained. The research question was answered using descriptive statistic of frequencies and percentages,whereas Chisquare statistic was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study among others revealed that over 50 per cent of the respondents with secondary certificate (58.3%); bachelor degree and above (56.2%), primary education (55.9%) and NCE/ND (55.8%) expressed positive attitude towards water hygiene. The Table further shows that more than 70 per cent of the respondentswith NCE/ND certificate (78.9%); bachelor degree and above (75.5%), primary education (74.8%) and secondary certificate (73.5%) displayedpositive attitude toward water source protection. In addition, it was found that women who attended ANC and received hygiene orientation in health facilities in Plateau State did not differ in attitude toward water hygiene according to level of education. Since not all the respondents expressed positive WHA, it was recommended that there is the need for a robust WHA enhancement strategy to be adopted and used by all and sundry.As the enhancement strategy is put in place and expressed or displayed by all and sundry, positive WHA will be expressed or displayed by all.