Assessment of Environmental Sanitation Issues on Digital Media in Mangu Local Government Area, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed environmental sanitation issues on digital media in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State. The study was anchored on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) model. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of the study comprised adults aged 18 years and above in Mangu LGA, with a projected population of 442,160 (National Bureau of Statistics, 2023). The accessible population was limited to those with access to smartphones and internet connection. A sample of 384 was determined using Krejcie and Morgan's table. Multistage sampling was employed: four wards were purposively selected from Mangu LGA, three communities were randomly selected from each ward, and 32 respondents were conveniently selected from each community to make 384. A structured questionnaire validated by two experts in the field of Mass Communication was used. Pilot study was conducted in Jos North LGA (n=30), Cronbach Alpha = 0.81. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean score with criterion mean of 2.5. Findings showed exposure levels as everyday 37.5%, once a week 15.6%, once a month 17.2% and rarely 29.7%. On attitudes, all items were accepted with grand mean of 3.23, indicating digital media messages were perceived to positively influence attitudes towards promoting clean environment (M=3.46), proper waste disposal (M=3.16), disapproval of open defecation (M=3.14) and participation in sanitation day (M=3.17). The study concludes that digital media shape positive attitudes but recommended integration of digital campaigns with provision of sanitation infrastructure.