Factors influencing the use of deflouridated Water in Nakuru town: A case study of Catholic Diocese of Nakuru Water quality program

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of the CDN water quality programme in providing safe fluoride free drinking water to the residents of Nakuru municipality. The objectives of the study were: to establish the extent to which the level of awareness influences the use of deflouridated water, to determine the influence of personal characteristics on use of deflouridated water and lastly, to determine the extent to which the method of deflouridation influences the use of deflouridated water. The study evaluated the performance of the program s. since its inception to date. It sought to establish if the short term goals have been realised. The research study was conducted in Nakuru Town. The study assessed the contribution of the CDN water quality programme in providing safe fluoride free drinking water to the residents of Nakuru Town. To evaluate level of awareness, an exploratory survey was conducted in the project area. Residents were randomly selected to fill the questionnaires. Three categories based on population density within the municipality were used in the survey. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the defluoridation program the study employed an experimental design. The CDN provided a list and contacts of the people who they supplied with the buckets. 30 among them were randomly selected to participate in the survey. Study subjects were randomly selected. The provided participants in the project were assigned numbers and a sample of 30 drawn through a ballot. Each objective was analyzed using appropriate statistical tests on using frequencies, percentage, means, mean difference and t-test. This study established if the program has been able to achieve the provision of deflouridated water to the residents. This acted as an indicator in the incidences of flourosis in the target population. The major findings were that the CDN project has been able to provide an effective method of deflouridation of drinking water. However, they have been unable to increase awareness on flourosis and the program. Therefore, the recommendations are that the CDN should embark on an aggressive campaign to increase awareness on flourosis and the their products.