Caregivers' Hygiene and Sanitation Conditions Associated with Nutrition Status of Children 6-59 Months in Kiandutu Informal Settlement, Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
MW ANGI, PERIS WANJIKU
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
It is estimated that, undernutrition in all its forms accounts for 45% of all deaths of
children aged less than five years and contribute to 3.1 million child deaths each
year. Poor Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) conditions, primarily through
repeated diarrhoea and intestinal nematode infections as poor WASH effects,
account for 40-60% of childhood malnutrition. This study sought to describe the
caregivers' hygiene and sanitation conditions associated with the nutrition status
among children aged 6-59 months in Kiandutu Informal Settlement, Kiambu County.
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used with a sample size of 165
participants. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaire for the
caregivers, observation checklists, KII schedules and FGD guide. Anthropometric
data for children aged 6-59 months was also collected using height board for height,
salter scale for weight and MUAC tape. Data analysis was done using SPSS whereby
Pearson's chi-square tests was used to test associations between caregivers' hygiene
and sanitation status and children's nutritional status. The level of significance was
set at P value (p<0.05). Bloom Cut off points were used to scale WASH knowledge
as either high, moderate or low depending on the scores out of 100 percent. Results
are presented in form of graphs and tables. The study established that there was low
(88.1 %) and moderate (11.9%) knowledge on WASH among caregivers. WASH
practices were poor too: only 23.9% got drinking water from piped sources, 61.6%
did not treat before drinking, 71.9% did not have access to a latrine and 55% of those
who washed hands used water only. The nutritional status was 33.3%, 15.1% and
8.8% for stunting, underweight and wasting respectively. WASH practices such as
source of drinking water in households (X2=24.033; p=0.026; df=2) and caregivers'
h~ndwashing practice (X2=44.459; p=<O.OOI; df=I) showed a significant relationship
with the child's nutritional status. WASH knowledge had a significant relationship
with the nutritional status (X2=3.836; p=0.036; df=l ). The study recommends that the
county government and any other relevant authority should increase health
communication, education and information sharing especially in household to raise
the level of WASH knowledge which will in turn improve WASH practice. Further,
there should be emphasis on the importance of integrating WASH components in all
nutrition programs to help fight malnutrition in children.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fullfillment of
the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Public
Health (Monitoring and Evaluation) in the School of
Public Health and Applied Human Sciences of Kenyatta
University
Keywords
Kenya, Kiambu County, Informal Settlement, Kiandutu, Caregivers' Hygiene, Sanitation, Nutrition