Knowledge of Open Defecation and Associated Risks among Community Members in, Mathioya Sub County, Murang’a County, Kenya DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajhs.v37i2.11
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Open Defecation (OD) has contributed to the widespread of faecal-oral diseases throughout communities globally. This practice has detrimental effects on the economy, health, and society, resulting in annual losses of almost 27 billion shillings in Kenya. The study aimed to assess knowledge of OD and associated risks, sources of information and OD practices among community members in Mathioya Sub County, Murang’a County, Kenya.
METHODOLOGY: A mixed methods design with a descriptive cross-sectional survey was used for quantitative data and FGD for qualitative data. A simple random sampling method was used to sample 185 households. Respondents were the household heads, their spouses or any adult member residing in the household. Quantitative data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and observation checklist and analyzed using SPSS. The Chi-square test measured association with a P = <0.05 being significant. A Focus Group Discussion Guide was used to collect qualitative data which was thematically analyzed.
RESULTS: Half (51.9%) of the respondents were aware of open defecation with the main source of information being CHVs as reported by 68.5%. Only a third (33.7%) of the respondents reported more than one risk associated with OD. The study revealed a strong association between OD with marital status P=0.001 and level of education P=0.004. The presence of faeces on the latrine floor being evidence of OD was observed in 65.9% of latrines. Qualitative data was thematically analyzed and further confirmed the presence of OD in the community “OD is happening in the community and is a major contributor to diarrhoeal diseases, especially in children”
CONCLUSION: Evidence of OD in the community was attributed to factors such as ignorance, lack or filled-up latrines, lack of anal cleansing materials and hand washing facilities with running water and soap. There is a need to sensitize and mobilize the community to ensure the provision of sanitary facilities with functional handwashing facilities and anal cleansing materials to eliminate OD and associated risks.
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