A survey of the sanitation and hygiene situation in public primary schools in Thika Municipality
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Date
2014-01-03
Authors
Ngure, P. W.
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Abstract
Research findings indicate that poor hygiene and sanitation may lead to numerous
diseases, most of which are life-threatening. There is therefore need for emphasis on
hygiene and sanitation in schools. After the family home, schools have a central place
in the community as most important places of learning for children, because that is
where they spend most of the day. The study therefore investigated the sanitation and
)1I:ygiene situation in public primary schools in Thika Municipality. This study
employed. the descriptive survey design to find out the sanitation and hygiene
situation in public primary. schools. The target population for the study was all
teachers and pupils of all the 24 public primary schools in Thika Municipality, Thika
District; from which 10 schools were randomly selected. Forty teachers and 200
pupils took part in the study. Two research tools were employed for data collection:
questionnaires for teachers and pupils, and an observation checklist. Quantitative data
was analyzed descriptively using frequency counts and percentages and presented
using frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Qualitative data was reported in
narrative form and where possible percentage of cases reported. The study established
that public primary schools in Thika Municipality are in a poor state of sanitation and
hygiene. The study found that: most of the basic sanitation resources are lacking.
Schools do not meet the required ratio of pupils per toilet, which is a result of overenrolment
as a result of free primary education. The schools have not provided hand
washing facilities, and even where they are available, they are not suitable for use by
lower primary school pupils. Pupils do not wash hands before meals and after visiting
toilets, meaning that they are at risk of contracting diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea,
and worm infections. While the attitudes of pupils towards sanitation and hygiene
practices were positive, the schools had not provided the enabling factors, that is,
resources like adequate latrine facilities and safe water supply that would enable
. pupils to transform acquired knowledge, attitudes and beliefs into desirable
behaviours. The study recommends that: schools should provide more toilets in line
with the ministerial guidelines and ensure that they are always functional and that the
toilets are suitable for use by younger pupils; schools should provide running water
and toilet ball in the urinals; while setting up sanitation facilities such hand washing
.facilities, schools should ensure that the resources are suitable for use by all pupils
including lower primary pupils, girls, and those with disabilities; the school
administration should playa lead role in mobilizing resources from the community
such as detergents; teachers should be vigilant in ensuring that pupils clean their
hands before meals and after visiting the toilet; the school administrators and teachers
should organize life skills training for the pupils in order to correct misconceptions
abopt hygiene and sanitation; the community should play a role by mobilizing
resources for improvement of hygiene and sanitation situation in public primary
schools; and that officials from the public health ministry should take it upon
themselves to pay impromptu visits to schools and assess the hygiene and sanitation
situation.
Description
Department of Educational Management Policy & Curriculum Studies, 63p. The LB 3409 .K4N45 2009
Keywords
School hygiene--Kenya--Thika Municipalitty