This study assessed the sanitary conditions, focusing on waste management and cleanliness practices, in the female hostels of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 301 female students, selected via a multistage sampling technique, using a structured questionnaire titled “Sanitary Practices in Female Hostels Questionnaire (SPFHQ).” Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, and an independent samples t-test was used to test the null hypothesis at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that while students generally maintained good personal waste disposal and cleaning habits—such as using covered bins and regularly sweeping their rooms, there were critical deficiencies in waste segregation and participation in structured cleaning rosters. Crucially, the hypothesis test revealed a statistically significant relationship between the effectiveness of the waste management system and overall perceived cleanliness (p < 0.001), with hostels having effective systems reporting markedly higher cleanliness scores. The study concludes that institutional waste management is a pivotal determinant of sanitary conditions. It therefore recommends that the university administration prioritize investments in robust waste management infrastructure and enforce communal cleaning schedules to safeguard student health and well-being.
Keywords: Waste Management, cleanliness, female hostels, sanitary conditions
