School Hygiene Promotion Approaches and their Influence on Pupil’s Hygiene Practices in Public Primary Schools in Dagoretti, Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Kathuni, Styvers Kirimi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Hygiene promotion in schools is an area of focus for public health practitioners in a bid to mitigate spread of water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases. There exist several hygiene promotion approaches that can be used in similar or different situations. Research indicates that selection and application of different approaches yields varied outcomes. The absence of clear guidelines on selection of hygiene promotion approaches, as is the case in Kenya, can lead to varied adoption of hygiene practices. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of hygiene promotion approaches on pupil’s hygiene practices. The study sought to establish the proportion of pupils practicing safe hygiene practices and the hygiene promotion approaches being employed by public primary schools in Dagoretti North and South Sub Counties in Nairobi City County. The study applied a descriptive cross-sectional design. Eligible schools in the study area had a population of 14,505 pupils and probability proportional to size was used to distribute the sampled 384 pupils across the schools. Questionnaires were administered to pupils with the aim of collecting data on hygiene knowledge and practices. Questionnaires were also used to collect data on selection of hygiene promotion approaches from 32 school health teachers. Pupil’s demographic data was collected from school head teachers. Five key informant interviews were conducted with Nairobi City County public health and education officers and a non-governmental organization staff. Observation checklists were used to triangulate information on hygiene practices by pupils. The data collected was entered and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Scientists to determine association and significant differences between variables through Chi-Square and Fisher’s exact tests. For comparison of quantitative variables, one-way analysis of variance test was used. Results indicate that 95.6% of the pupils practiced hand washing at critical times, 98.7% used the toilet while 85.4% safely disposed solid waste. The study reveals that water, sanitation and hygiene in school approach is implemented by 31.3% of the school health teachers. There is a significant relationship between school health clubs approach and hand washing at critical times (p=0.04) and proper solid waste disposal (p=0.02). One way analysis of variance established that there is a statistically significant difference among hygiene promotion approaches and pupils hygiene knowledge, F(5, 162) = 6.41, p <0.05 ƞ²p = 0.076. Majority of the school health teachers (62.5%) noted that the school’s management support to a particular approach was the major factor influencing selection of the approach. There is a significant relationship between selection of an approach due to the factor that non-governmental organization or government officers came with the approach and a combination of school health clubs, Water Sanitation and Hygiene in schools and No Strings approaches (p=0.02). The study concludes that different hygiene promotion approaches have potential to influence hygiene practices and in particular, hand washing at critical times and proper solid waste disposal amongst pupils in public primary schools in Dagoretti. The study recommends formation of school health clubs and involvement of school’s management in selection and implementation of hygiene promotion approaches.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Water Supply and Sanitation) in the School of Public Health and Applied Human Sciences of Kenyatta University, July 2021
Keywords
School Hygiene, Promotion Approaches, Influence, Pupil’s Hygiene Practices, Public Primary Schools, Dagoretti, Nairobi City County, Kenya