Uptake of Community Led Total Sanitation among Residents of Isiolo County, Kenya
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Date
2024-08
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
The study aims to assess the uptake of Community Led Total Sanitation among
residents of Isiolo County, Kenya, focusing on individual factors, latrine ownership and
use, and institutional factors associated with uptake. Despite the global call for
universal access to sanitation and hygiene, about 673 million people still defecate in the
open, despite the Kenyan government's adoption of this program. The cross-sectional
descriptive study design, using both quantitative and qualitative data collection
methods, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The sample size
comprised of 373 household heads systematically picked at an interval of 8 from
villages in selected Wards of Ngare Mara and Oldonyiro wards. Isiolo County was
purposively selected since it is among the top ten counties practicing open defecation.
Key informants comprising of healthcare workers, religious leaders and chiefs/opinion
leader were also interviewed. Isiolo sub-county was randomly selected using folded
pieces of paper while Ngare Mara and Oldonyiro Wards were purposively chosen as
they recorded the highest prevalence of diarrheal diseases. The researcher sought all
required approvals from relevant institutions and obtained informed consent from
participants. Quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaires from
household heads while qualitative data was collected using Key Informant Interview
schedules from opinion leaders. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences version 22.0. Qualitative data was triangulated with
quantitative results as direct quotes or narrations as presented by the key informants.
Chi-Square tests were done at 95% confidence interval with a 0.05 margin of error of
0.05 to calculate inferential statistics. The study results revealed that the rate of
community led total sanitation in Isiolo County was 31.9%. The majority (54.3%) of
responded owned a latrine with only 42.1% showing evidence of use. Majority of
individual factors such as awareness of negative effects of open defecation (P=0.011),
willingness to use a latrine (P=0.024), ability to construct and maintain a pit-latrine
(P=0.001) and decision makers of pit-latrine construction (P=0.001) influenced
community led total sanitation uptake. Most (53.5%) of the households owned a pit latrine with owning a pit-latrine (P=0.001), place of defecation (P=0.003), washing
hands after visiting a pit-latrine (P=0.001) and disposal of child excreta (P=0.023)
significantly associated with community led total sanitation uptake. Most institutional
factors such as provision of incentives for pit-latrine ownership (P=0.013), source of
information on health issues (P=0.001), community involvement in planning their
health activities (P=0.041) and invitation for meetings on sanitation (P=0.038)
significantly influenced uptake of community led total sanitation. The study concludes
that the rate of community led total sanitation in Isiolo County was low. In fact, only
three in every ten households in the county uptake community led total sanitation. The
results will inform policy makers, academic researchers and other stakeholders to craft
interventions for action to improve sanitation coverage by implementing community
led total sanitation. This will help reduce open defecation rates and decrease diarrheal
diseases thus contributing positively to the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goal number six by the year 2030.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) in the School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University August, 2024
Supervisors:
1. Isabella King’ori
3.. Anthony Ireri