The influence of social factors and status of faecal management facilities on human faecal management in Changamwe Sub-County, Mombasa County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58506/ajstss.v2i2.176Keywords:
Human Faecal Management, Social factorsAbstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda 6.2 focuses on ensuring that human faecal matter is safely managed for improved human health. Although efforts to improve sanitation standards such as provision of excreta management facilities, community education programs, and construction of sewerage systems have been made, excreta management still remains poor especially in areas with high population. The study examined the influence of social factors and status of faecal management facilities on human faecal management in Changamwe Sub-County, Kenya. Convergent design with a mixed methods approach was used where quantitative and qualitative data was gathered simultaneously. Structured questionnaires were used to gather quantitative data from 397 household heads selected using cluster and proportionate simple random sampling techniques. The data was analysed in both descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was obtained from a focus group, analyzed thematically and presented as narratives. Results showed that toilet sharing between gender and in-laws affected toilet use. Residents believed that handling of feaces was unclean which restricted proper management of faeces on filled up toilets. Children were more likely to defecate in the open compared to adults because they feared collapsing inside the scary huge toilet holes. Findings showed that beliefs and age were significant predictors of human faecal management practices. Due to lack of education or knowledge on safe management of faeces, residents disposed of faecal matter in open drains which contaminated the environment. Toilet sharing across in-laws of opposite gender was a taboo. The characteristics of more than 50% of toilet facilities were gaps around the walls, lack of lighting, flies and bad smell. Respondents highlighted that emptying of full pits was a challenge due to narrow apertures and poor status of the slab which could not permit removal of faeces from pits. Observation findings also revealed evidence of faeces left in the open. A unit improvement in status of faecal management facilities improved human faecal management by 0.922 units (p-value=0.000). The study concluded that human faecal management in Changamwe was poor due to social factors and status of faecal management facilities among other factors which require exploration. The study recommends the need for initiation of sustained social interventions by both the government and non-governmental organisations so as to facilitate behavioral change which can have substantial influence on human faecal management. The study also recommends the need for sanitation infrastructural development by the County Government of Mombasa particularly in densely populated areas to improve their faecal management practices.
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