Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

This study assessed the state of sanitation and hygiene in public primary schools in Kakamega Municipality Division. All 25 public primary schools located in Kakamega Municipality Division participated. The descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Stratified random sampling was used to select 400 pupils between class 4 and 7. Twenty-five (25) teachers were purposively sampled. Study tools used were an observational checklist and structured questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics including mean and cross tabulations were used. Pearson�s Chi-Square test was used to determine relationships between the variables. Approval by Institutional Research and Ethics Committee of the Moi University and informed consent from all study participants was sought. The results indicated that the state of sanitary facilities in schools was poor, unmaintained and inadequate in almost 50% of schools. This demonstrated that investment in school infrastructure was not accorded due priority. Negative effects on pupil�s health were due to inaccessible safe drinking water and inadequate sanitary infrastructure despite pupils demonstrating acceptable levels of knowledge on personal hygiene and sanitation. As a result, pupils suffered from communicable diseases such as diarrhea, flu, and typhoid which could be prevented by improving sanitation in schools. The study concluded that physical infrastructure in schools within the study area was in a deplorable state and inadequate for the pupil population. Gaps were identified in school management of resources and enforcement of school health laws.

Biography

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