Impact of sanitation improved school latrine on latrine-related practices, perceptions attitude and occurrence of diarrhoea in children in Mwea Division, Kirinyaga District, Central Kenya
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Date
2015
Authors
Ng'ethe, Muhoho
Mitsui, Y.
Mwandawiro, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University School of Medicine
Abstract
Background: School latrines in Mwea
irrigation regions are unsanitary and
unhygienic. School children who are
the end point users of the latrines are
exposed to the unhygienic conditions
of the latrines and are likely to contract
sanitation related diseases. School
children have their outlook on the
sanitation of the school latrines and
they can play an important role towards
programmes for improvement of
sanitation in the school latrines.
Objective: To determine children's
perception attitude and practices about
the school latrines in relation to their
health experiences.
Methods: A self-administered
questionnaire was conducted from 215
Grade Three children in three primary
schools in Mwea Division of Central
Kenya. Questions about washing hands
after latrine use, cleaning of latrines,
avoiding use of latrines and perceptions
about dirty latrines in relation to
occurrence of diarrhea were asked.
Occurrence of diarrhoea was based on
child's recall of the experience during
the one week preceding the day of the
test.
Results: Diarrhoea was experienced by
23% of children occuring more often in
boys (29%) than in girls (17%). Children
who perceived school latrine to be dirty
developed diarrhoea (29%) more often
than those who did not (18%). Diarrhoea
occurrence was reported more
frequently by children whose response
was negative for washing hands after
latrine use (28%) than those who did
(15%). Children who felt that cleaning
school latrines was a punishment
developed diarrhoea (41%) more often
than those who did not (18%). On the
other hand, there was no Significance
difference in occurrence of diarrhoea
in association with avoidance of usage
of school latrines, cleaning of school
latrines, and willingness to clean the
school latrines.
Conclusion: The school children have
given a low rating of the sanitatary
condition of the school latrines.They are
the end point users of school latrines
and their outlok on the condition of
the latrine in relation to their health is
important for implementation of disease
intervention measures.
Description
Journal Articles scanned from a hard copy of the East and central Africa medical journal
Keywords
Citation
East and Central Africa Medical Journal 2014; 1(1): 22-27