ABSTRACT
The needs assessment aimed to understand the demographics, beliefs, and WASH behaviours of Idenau, Cameroon, to determine the needs of the community. Based on both quantitative and qualitative results, lack of access to clean water, open defecation and hygiene related issues, and waste management were the main issues discussed throughout the needs assessment. Lack of sanitation infrastructure within Idenau does not allow the Idenau community to take part in proper hygiene methods. The participants agree that open defecation is bad but still reported it as a common practice within the community. In addition, malaria, diarrhoea, and typhoid are all common diseases that occur within the community. A limitation of the survey is the self-reported responses. The open-ended questions asked during the community discussion and the quantitative survey questions compiled together were not assessed for validity or reliability to determine if it was appropriate for the population. Some bias during the community discussion may have existed, due to the phrasing of questions by the volunteers. Nevertheless, these conversations still give us an insight to the current problems faced in Idenau, Cameroon, and bring to light the dangerous WASH situation of the municipality.
