A comparative study of water supply and child health In three villages in Kibera informal settlement, I Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the impact of water supply on child health. It specifically sought to establish the impact of water availability, water quality and water accessibility on child health, with special emphasis on water-related diseases among children. Children ill any nation are an asset. Therefore anything endangering their well being calls for attention, more especially to children in "especially difficult conditions" like those living in the slums areas; Kibera being one such area. The study was carried out in three of the nine villages in Kibera slums. The respondents comprised mothers with children aged 5 years and below. The study sample was selected through multi-stage sampling technique. One hundred and tiny respondents were interviewed. Sources of the data included primary and secondary. The methods of data collection included personal interviews and direct observation. Structured interviews with key informants like social and health workers were also used. The study established a direct relationship between" water supply and water-related diseases. This is to say that given available, accessible and good quality water the likelihood is that waterrelated diseases will decrease. Water availability or water quality independently, cannot minimize the water-related diseases among children. However, awareness on the need to use clean water, especially for drinking purposes showed a significant reduction in the rate of water- , related infections among children. Water-related diseases were found to affect children's health adversely, in some cases, for instance, retarding the children's growth. Other factors contributing to occurrence of waterrelated disease among under fives were, poor environmental sanitation and lack of hygiene awareness among mothers. The major water-related diseases reported were diarrhoea, amebiases and skin and eye infections. There was need therefore for community sensitization on matters of hygiene and sanitation. Provision of accessible and adequate water was found to be important in efforts towards alleviation of these diseases among the under fives