Public Health Implications of Government Negligence in Human Corpse Management in South-West of Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the factors sustaining the practice of human corpse burial in residence in Nigeria, analyzed the implications of cemetery management on use for corpse interment in Nigeria, and reviewed the public health implications of residence burial in Nigeria. The research design was a case study, and data for the study were sourced from secondary materials. Information gathered was presented through thematic analyses. The study revealed that no law forbidding the interment of the dead in any part of the state, including residence. The only requirement is the consent of the government. It was also noted that there are three forms of the cemetery; community, private and public. Hence, while the public and community cemeteries are poorly managed, the private is expensive and meant for the rich. The study noted that the public health implication of residence burial includes contamination of well, water sources available to residents, and also catalysis for community transmission of contagious infection, including covid-19. The study concluded that the issues of poor administration in the public cemetery and huge costs in the private cemetery could be responsible for home interment since the law does not prohibit the act. The practice of residence burial has evidently been impacting public health ranging from water contamination to the spread of contagious infections, including Covid-19.