J. Int. Environmental Application & Science, Vol. 18(2): 00-00 (2023) Research Paper 1 Open Defecation Practices in Rural Areas Threat Public Health: An Assessment of Selected Area in Sokoto, Nigeria Mukhtar Abubakar Abdullahi 1,  , Yusuf Sarkingobir 2, Asiya Gidado Yabo 3 1. College of Nursing Sciences Tambuwal, Sokoto state, Nigeria: 2. Crown University International Chartered Incorporated/ Department of Environmental Education, Shehu Shagari University of Education Sokoto, Nigeria 3. Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto, Nigeria Received March 02;2023; Accepted May 04, 2023 Abstract: The study aimed to assess open defecation amongst residents in a rural area of Wurno local government, Sokoto, Nigeria. The design utilized was cross-sectional survey, applied to gather information of the participants and their environment with the aid of structured questionnaires at a given time. The collected information was subjected to descriptive statistics and X 2 test at p<.05. The results reveal, majority of the participants (77.8%) are into open defecation; minority (22.2%) always do it. 77.8% of them always practice it, 11.1% never had open defecation, and 11.1% often do it. Majority (77.8%) had untidy toilets, minority (22.2%) had clean latrines.72.2% that is majority of the toilets in the area had no water supply, and minority (27.8%) of them had water. Toilets are shared by 9 people (72.2%) mostly, then 12 individuals (16.7%), and by 8 persons (11.1%). Majority (72.2%) of them do not wash hands with soap after toilet; and minority use soap after toilet (27.8%). All respondents agreed to burning of their waste (100.0%). Mostly open defecation is due to insufficient toilets (36.1%), then poor awareness (32.2%) and, poverty (31.7%). There was stool in the area (80.0%) and two defecators seen during the early morning (76.1%), 5 and above defecators were seen (12.8%), and only one person was seen (11.1%). Children (51.1%) are the most defecators, then adolescents (48.9%). Mostly, defecators are males (51.1%), 48.9% females. Open defecation is a much threat in children and women. Enough toilets and efforts are needed. Keywords: Open defecation, rural, diseases, malnutrition, polio, water supply Introduction The act of defecation perpetrated by an individual or groups of people in an open space, waterbodies, bushes, etc. is defined as open defecation. It is an act of avoiding toilet while defecating and an act of passing stool in a manner that does not support hygienic separation of human waste and the human body and ultimately lead to so many adverse effects to the public health at large (Center for Legislative and Research and Advocacy, 2013; Coffey, 2015; Saleem et al., 2019; Onyemaechi et al., 2022). Therefore, open defecation is regarded as an unimproved method of sanitation and the least status on the sanitation ladder that affects everyone. From the global dimension, about 0.9 billion people are still into the act of open defecation, and in sub-Saharan region of Africa about sixteen million citizens to two hundred and twenty million are perpetrating the act unabated (Ntaro et al., 2022). In Nigeria, there are some reports that show that, still about6 25% of the citizens are defecating in the open with variation among the various regions of the country (Onyemaechi et al., 2022). Open defecation is a principal threat to public health in many ways especially in rural settings. It is a main factor that spurs much contamination of the environment, water resources; and in turn increasing the risks of waterborne and water related diseases. Low sanitation has led to higher mortality and morbidity rates especially among children that are below five years old; therewith, about 70, 000 deaths are recorded every year in the country (Adeoye, 2015; Ufomba et al., 2021). Diarrhea, intestinal worms, polio, typhoid fever, hepatitis, trachoma, are some of the diseases challenging the health of Nigerians because of open defecation or poor sanitation practices (Ufomba et al., 2021). Pertaining economics, there are a lot of effects arising from the open defecation practices and the effects are meted on about 1 billion people worldwide (Ufomba et al., 2021). Parable, when a person disgorges 1 gram of stool in the open, about 1,000 parasitic cysts, 1,000, 000 bacteria, 100 parasitic eggs, 10, 000, 000 viruses, and other pathogens are released. Consequently, this combo of microbes *Corresponding: E-Mail: yusuf@crownintl.education ;Tel;+2349096266980