An assessment of sanitation facilities in public primary schools in Kajiado Central District

Abstract

The Government of Kenya has a National School Health Policy (2009) and its corresponding guidelines National School Health Guidelines (2009), through which it aims to ensure the improved health of all school going children. The policy provides for a comprehensive school health programme which addresses various health needs of children through the formal schooling system. Through the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008) school administrators have well defined parameters and process indicators to guide implementation. The proposed study was carried out in Kajiado County, where 56% of the households defecate in the bush and 65% have boreholes as the main source of water (Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC), 2009).School going children spend between six and eight hours in school daily. Inadequate sanitation facilities force them to practise open defecation and prevent them from washing their hands. This exposes them to the risk of contracting faecal-oral and other sanitation related diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid and soil-transmitted helminth infections. Objective: The study aimed to assess sanitation standards in public primary schools within Kajiado Central District in order to evaluate the extent to which they conform to the guidelines set in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008) Ministry of Education/Church World Services. Methods and Analysis: This was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out in a population sample of twenty public primary schools in Kajiado Central District in March 2012 during a normal school term. A structured observational assessment based on a prepared checklist was carried out as well as key informant interviews 15 with the head teachers and health teachers. The study area has a small urban centre Kajiado town, but the majority of the schools are in the rural areas. The study employed mixed sampling techniques to ensure proportionate representation of schools in all divisions of the district. Results: A total of 228 pupil latrines and 57 staff latrines were observed in the study with 58% of mixed schools having boys’ urinals. National standards stipulate a ratio of 25 pupils to 1 latrine but the situation in the study schools differed greatly. The overall pupil latrine ratio was 45 girls: 1 latrine with a door; for boys in schools with urinals was 71 boys: 1 urinal and 2 latrines, while the ratio for boys in schools without urinals stood at 71 boys to 1 latrine with door. The main source of water varied with 30% having water piped to the school, 20% buying from vendors, 15% respectively from community boreholes and water pans/dams, 5% own borehole and the rest from rain water harvesting. Fifty five percent of schools had designated hand washing points but water was only available in half of these, in effect only 30% of study schools had functional handwashing stations. The study found that 45% of school administrators were not aware of any type of national sanitation guidelines or standards, while 85% of health/environment teachers reported being unaware of any national standards or guidelines. Conclusion: The sanitation facilities in public primary schools Kajiado Central District do not meet national requirements with two parameters: latrine ratios and functional hand washing points falling extremely short. In addition the school administrators and health teachers ought to be knowledgeable on the national guidelines and standards