Infrastructural Conditions at Food Vending Sites in Imo State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Assessment

Infrastructure supporting safe food selling includes the use of potable water, sanitation, hand hygiene, waste management, drainage, and protection from dust and garbage. This study described the infrastructural problems at food selling sites in chosen locations in Imo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken among 705 food vendors/sites in five selected local government areas. Trained research assistants administered structured questionnaires and completed observation checklists. Infrastructure indicators were the principal source of water, solid waste disposal technique, sewage disposal facility, distance to drainage channels, type of surrounding road, handwashing facilities and presence of visible trash dumps within 10 m. Frequencies and percentages were computed using SPSS version 23. 44.0% of sites had piped or borehole water and 31.2% relied on vendor/cart-supplied or surface water. Only 34.2% used government rubbish bins but 65.8% used open dumping, burning or roadside heaps. Pit latrines served 45.4% of sites and 14.6% had no sewage facility or reported open defecation . Four out of five sites (80.1%) were located within 50 m of a drainage canal. But 47.7% were along roadside market corridors or dirt roads, and 52.3% were next to paved roads. Handwashing facilities with soap were available at 48.1% of sites, 27.2% had a facility without soap, and 24.7% had none . 56.0% of sites have visible garbage dumps within 10 m. There were serious deficiencies in trash disposal, sanitation, handwashing, separation of drainage and cleanliness of the site. Investment is needed in defined vending zones, safe water, working handwashing stations, restrooms, drainage and reliable rubbish collection