Evaluation of Household Waste Management Practices on Public Health in Nyanza District, Southern Province, Rwanda

Abstract

Improper household waste management contributes to environmental degradation and adverse health outcomes, particularly where formal collection services are limited. This study evaluated household waste management practices and their association with public health outcomes in Nyanza District, Southern Province, Rwanda. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods design included 398 households selected through proportionate stratified sampling across 10 sectors and 22 purposively selected key informants. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. Waste segregation at source was reported by 45.7% of households, recycling by 37.2%, and composting by 40.7%, while 62.8% lacked access to waste collection services. Reported waste-related conditions included diarrhoea (45.7%), respiratory infections (37.2%), typhoid (24.1%), and skin infections (21.1%), with children under five years the most affected group (42.2%). Overall household waste management practices were positively associated with public health outcomes (r = .280, p < .01). The regression model explained 34.0% of the variance in public health outcomes (R² = .340, adjusted R² = .328). Significant predictors were waste segregation, disposal frequency, access to collection services, recycling/composting participation, and waste storage methods, whereas disposal method and government regulations/awareness were not significant. The findings indicate that practical household waste management practices and service access are associated with public health outcomes in Nyanza District.