Open defecation remains an important sanitation challenge in Nigeria, and the presence of household latrines does not necessarily indicate consistent latrine use. This paper examined the relationship between household latrine ownership and self-reported open-defecation practice in Okada, a suburban community in Edo State, Nigeria, while also describing perceived conditions associated with continued open defecation. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged 18 years and above. Of 288 questionnaires distributed, 254 were returned and analysed, giving a response rate of 88.2%. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations and Pearson's chi-square tests. Open defecation was reported by 134 respondents (52.8%), while 214 (84.3%) reported having a latrine at home. Among respondents with household latrines, 121 of 214 (56.5%) reported practising open defecation, compared with 13 of 40 (32.5%) respondents without household latrines. Household latrine ownership was significantly associated with open-defecation practice (χ² = 7.816, p = .005). This association indicates that latrine ownership and consistent avoidance of open defecation did not coincide within the surveyed population and should not be interpreted as evidence that latrine ownership promotes open defecation. Frequently reported perceived explanations for continued open defecation included lack of water or dirty toilet facilities (93.3%), unhygienic toilet conditions (92.9%), lack of toilet facilities (92.1%), poverty (91.3%), long distance from toilet facilities (86.6%) and the perception that open defecation was of limited importance (76.4%). Perceived low importance was also significantly associated with open-defecation practice (χ² = 9.937, p = .002). The findings identify a clear sanitation access-use gap and show that household latrine ownership alone is an incomplete indicator of sanitation behaviour. Sanitation programmes should therefore assess not only facility availability, but also functionality, accessibility, cleanliness, water availability and sustained use.

Open defecation, latrine ownership, sanitation behaviour, sanitation access, toilet utilisation, WASH, Nigeria

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