Uptake of Key Sanitation Practices on Prevalence of Diarrhoea in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya: A Comparative Analysis of two study sites.

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Date
2018
Authors
Muendo, Cornellius
Mwanzo, Isaac
Karama, Mohammed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IJSRP
Abstract
Background: Diarrhoea is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years in Kenya. Poor sanitation practices considerably contribute to the disease burden. In Tharaka Nithi County, the reported cases of diarrhoea remain significantly high despite the roll out of Community Health Strategy interventions in 2006. The Kenya’s Community Health strategy is an approach of Healthcare service provision where individual households and communities are empowered to take a leading role in disease prevention and control initiatives. Objective: To determine the influence of uptake of key sanitation practices on diarrhoea prevalence in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study enlisted a total of 394 primary respondents, including 196 respondents from the Community Health Strategy implementing sites and 198 from non-implementing sites. Interview schedules were employed in collection of quantitative data while focused group discussions and key informant interviews elicited qualitative information. A p value of less or equal to 0.05 (p ≤ 0.05) was considered statistically significant. Results: The study found a statistically significant higher diarrhoea prevalence amongst households that did not have access to improved sanitation facilities (χ 2 = 6.443, df=2, p=0.04); that did not have handwashing facilities (χ2 = 19.423, df=2, p˂0.001); that did not use soap in washing hands (χ 2 = 18.052, df=2, p˂0.001); that practiced unsafe disposal of children faeces (χ2 = 24.252, df=2, p˂0.001) and those with a comparatively less knowledge on the steps of washing hands (χ 2 = 7.726, df=2, p=0.021). Conclusions: There was a significant associating between the uptake of key sanitation practices and prevalence of diarrhoea in the study sites. Recommendation: The study underscores the need to increase demand for key sanitation practices in order to stem off cases of diarrhoea diseases in the County.
Description
Article
Keywords
Community Health Strategy, Diarrhoea, Sanitation, Tharaka Nithi County, and under five children
Citation
Muendo, C., Mwanzo, I., & Karama, M. Uptake of Key Sanitation Practices on Prevalence of Diarrhoea in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya: A Comparative Analysis of two study sites.