Datametrics conducted an endline evaluation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and Nutrition Intervention in Damboa and Dikwa LGAs in Borno State. The evaluation was conducted in Internally Displaced Persons camps and host communities. Data were collected from 494 households. The evaluation was carried out among female caregivers, community leaders, officers in charge of health facilities, and camp coordinators.

The study elicited information on the availability and access to public water facilities. More than 90% of respondents were aware of Boreholes in their community, while 65.6% referred to the borehole as their main source of drinking water. The most common drinking water storage container was a wide-mouthed with a closable top, observed in 51.5% of the households. In general, 71.4% of respondents demonstrated proper water storage.

About 77% of respondents were aware of public toilet facilities in their community and 51.6% had a functional toilet within their households as at the time of the study. Neither soap nor water was available in 53.7% of the households with in-house toilet facilities. However, 80.4% of households without toilet facilities, mentioned public toilets as their main method of sewage disposal.

Knowledge of causes of diarrhea included the use of contaminated water to prepare food (23.3%), not washing hands before feeding a child (10.3%), eating contaminated food or germs in food (15%), flies and insects (18.4%) and poor hygiene (35.4%). About half of the respondents will take a child with diarrhea to the nearest health facility for treatment. About 29% of respondents reported diarrhea in their children in the last two weeks while 77% of these sought treatment from a health provider. About 85% of the respondents were able to identify three critical times to wash hands.

A majority (67%) of the respondents mentioned boiling water as a method of water purification, while 52.4% mentioned adding water-purifying chemicals to water. About 79% are aware of water purifying chemicals and 66.5% of these mentioned Aquatab while 21.2% mentioned Chlorine. Furthermore, 60% of all households add water treatment chemicals to purify their water. About 76% of respondents who use Aquatab demonstrated correct use.

The evaluation highlighted notable achievements of the intervention and identified areas for improvement.