Community sanitation hygiene and cooking behaviors and their association with child health in Nigeria

Sanitation, hygiene, and cooking habits have a profound impact on child well-being, as they help prevent diseases and enhance nutrition. This study examined the impact of community health ideals, particularly the use of sanitary toilets, handwashing practices, and solid fuel stoves, on child health outcomes in Nigeria from 2011 to 2021. This study analyzes repeated cross-sectional data from two MICSs dataset in Nigeria, focusing on community health practices and children's health consequences. Findings depicted that child illnesses generally declined between 2011 and 2021, except for fever, which increased across several regions. Improvements in sanitation and reduced solid-fuel stove use were uneven, while hygiene practices declined nationwide. Negative Binomial Regression results showed that unsanitary toilets and solid-fuel stoves significantly increased illness symptoms, whereas better handwashing practices, higher maternal education, and household wealth reduced illness symptoms. The findings underscore the necessity of targeted interventions such as clean cooking inventions, upgraded sanitation, and education-based public health policies.