ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF DOMESTIC WATER MANAGEMENT AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL ON DIARRHEAL CASES AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE IN KANGEMI, NAIROBI COUNTY
Isabella Sophia Onyango - Master of Science, Public Health (Epidemiology), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Charles Angira (PhD) - Department of Public and Community Health & Development, School of Health Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Grace K. Nyambati (PhD) - Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Diarrheal diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries particularly in children. Unsafe drinking water, along with poor sanitation and hygiene, are the main contributors to an estimated 4 billion cases of diarrheal diseases annually, causing more than 1.5 million deaths, mostly among children less than five years of age. The prevalence of diarrhea in Kangemi is at 17% among children with peak period at age 6-11 months. About 95% of Kangemi residents have no access to good sanitation and only 19% of livelihoods have access to piped water. The broad objective was to establish economic determinants of domestic water management at household level on diarrheal cases among children under five years of age in Kangemi, Nairobi County. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design to determine the determinants of domestic water management at household level on diarrheal cases among a target population of children between 0-59 months. The study was done in Kangemi, Westland Sub County Nairobi County. The study Parents were parents of children below the age of 59 months. This research study used a stratified random sampling method to select and sample the Parents. The primary data that was used to collect data is use of questionnaires and complemented by use of in-depth interview guides. The secondary data was obtained from records obtained from; scholarly journals, books, professional reports and papers by authorities in research. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software package, version 22. On the other hand, qualitative data was analyzed through categorization and organized into themes, patterns and dimensions. The data was presented in Tables and figures. The study established that economic determinants of domestic water management at household level affect diarrheal cases among children under five years of age in Kangemi, Nairobi County as shown by 79.2%. The study concluded that economic determinants significantly influence on management of domestic water at household level and diarrheal morbidity in Kangemi. The authorities in Kangemi area should grant special attention to poorer households when implementing strategies for population access to safe and reliable water, that there is need to empower women through financial awareness and education and that Ministry of health should conduct training and awareness programs on diarrhea detection and treatment.
