Accessibility of Public Conveniences by Students in Higher Education Institutions

Public conveniences are important to everyone, irrespective of age, class, ethnic origin, gender, mental ability, or physical ability. Access to it or otherwise serves significant implications on the total learning environment. This paper discusses the accessibility of students to public conveniences in a major academic institution in South West Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among 233 students in the institution. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in collecting data for the study. Qualitative data was collected using in-depth interviews, observation, and physical inspection of sanitary facilities in the faculties, while a structured self-administered open-ended questionnaire was used to gather data on students’ assessment of sanitary facilities in the selected faculties. Descriptive statistics and weighted mean scores were used in analysing the data using SPSS version 21. The analysis reveals among other that the state of sanitary facilities across the faculties and hall of residences are in a deplorable state, the student to toilet ratio is as high as 1:195 as against the standard requirements recommended by National University Commission (NUC), the available ones are poorly maintained with a high number of toilet facilities under lock and key resulting in students practising unhygienic practices of open defecation. The findings also reveal that lighting, ventilation, adequate water supply, good management and maintenance, privacy and security, availability of toilet supplies, location, availability of disabled toilets, aesthetics, and segregated toilets with signages are the main factors determining utilisation of public toilet facilities It was recommended that toilet facilities should be made available and accessible for all, irrespective of ability or disability to foster a healthy learning environment.