Factors influencing participation of stakeholders in eradication of jiggers: A case of Kandara sub county,Muranga county, Kenya.

Abstract

This study was about the factors influencing participation of stakeholders in eradication of jiggers in Kandara sub county, Muranga County. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish the level at which demographic characteristic influence participation of stakeholders in eradication of jiggers in Kandara sub county, to determine the extent to which social cultural factors influence participation of stakeholders in eradication of jiggers in kandara sub county, to find out how political factors influence participation of stakeholders in eradication of jiggers in kandara sub county and to determine how economic factors influence participation of stakeholders in eradication of jiggers in kandara Sub County. The literature reviewed was guided by the above objectives. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approach. Data was collected through descriptive survey design. The target population was adult men and women. The sample size was 375, that is, 365 community members and 10 community leaders. The sampling technique used was simple random and stratified sampling for sampling community members and purposive sampling for sampling community leaders. The research instruments that were used were questionnaires and interviews. A pilot test was done to test reliability of the instruments using a village in the bordering Gitugi Sub County. Descriptive statistical methods were used in analyzing the quantitative data while narratives were used to analyze qualitative data. SPSS (Statistical packages for social Sciences) was used to generate the appropriate result frequencies and percentages. Tables were used to present the results. The study found out that among the demographic characteristics, only age and education level influenced participation. However, social, economic and political factors had a significant influence on stakeholder’s participation in jigger eradication. The study recommends more training, mobilization and sensitization of community members by the Ministry of Public Health. The government should ensure that the jigger guidelines are implemented and avail jigger medication in hospitals. The stakeholders should also continue collaborating with the government since the government cannot fight this menace alone. The overall findings of this study helped shed light on how participation influences jigger eradication activities and also provides other researchers with more information since this is an area with very little literature available.