Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, H: Environment & Earth Science, Volume 22 Issue 1

The researcher began data gathering in 2020 by first training four Assistant researchers and also familiarizing himself with the field. This was done by identifying and establishing rapport with key informants. These key informants were mostly suggested through formal and informal discussions with some of the community members. The first persons to be contacted were the assembly persons for the communities who represent the political authority at the community levels or electoral areas. They were contacted to give permission for the conduct of the study and to seek their assistance in identifying people whose views could be of immense help to the study. After explaining the intent and purpose of the study, the chiefs of the communities were met. g) Data Collection The study collected both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire at the household levels using a survey guide. The Secondary data was collected from registers of monitoring tools, quarterly reports, review reports, annual reports and plans of district and regional environmental health and sanitation unit offices so as to compare with primary data collected. The quantitative data was collected using questionnaire, which was designed as the result of intensive literature search, programme theory and conceptual framework of the pre-determined questions and responses. After numbering the households the questionnaire was administered to all heads of households selected for the study. In case of those selected household heads were absent another person who is 18years and above was selected. During data collection the head of households were requested for their consent to participate in the study. h) Data Processing and Analysis The data was checked for distribution and outliers. The questionnaire was coded and entered using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20; descriptive statistics was done to derive numerical and non-numerical data presentation models including, graphs and tables. The data was also analysed using correlation to find the relationship between socio-demographic data and open defecation free communities to established the determinants of open defecation. III. R esults and D iscussion a) Socio Demographic Characteristics of Respondents Information on the socio-demographic information of the respondents included both males and females. The least age of the respondents was 18 years with a maximum age of 60 years. There were a total of 225 respondents who responded to the structured questionnaire. Out of this, 170 were males representing 75.6 percent of the respondents and 55 females representing 24.4 percent of the respondents (Figure 2). Figure 2: Sex of respondents. Source; Field survey, 2020 This is because; males are the household heads in the study district. The results showed that 29 respondents representing 12.9 percent of the respondents were between 18-25 years, 23.6 percent of the respondents were between the age 26-33 years, 21.3 percent of the respondents were between 34-41 years of age, 24.4 percent of the respondents were between 42-49 years of age, 12.9 percent of the respondents were between 50-57 years of age, whilst 4.9 percent of the respondents were 58-60 years of age (Table 2). 170; 76% 55; 24% Male Female © 2022 Global Journals 1 Year 2022 32 Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXII Issue ersion I VI ( H ) Assessing the Determinants of Open Defecation Free Communities b ased on the Socio-Demographic and Economic Status of Household Heads in the Mion District of Northern Region, Ghana