Water Wells and Hygiene Practices in Urban Slums: A Six-Month Study in Lagos, Nigeria

Urban slums in Lagos, Nigeria often lack basic infrastructure such as clean water sources, contributing to poor hygiene practices among residents. The study employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to assess changes in water usage, handwashing frequency, and overall cleanliness among participants over six months. Participants reported increased use of communal water wells for drinking and cooking (from 40% pre-study to 75% post-study), leading to a noticeable improvement in handwashing frequency (from 25% daily before the study to 60% after). Community-installed water wells have been effective in enhancing hygiene practices, particularly among women and children who are more vulnerable to disease. Further studies should explore long-term sustainability of such interventions and their impact on broader health outcomes.