Factors influencing the promotion of safe FSM in flood-prone areas (Kenya)

Sustainable Development Goal 6 target 2 aims at access to safe sanitation for all and ending all forms of open defecation. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of social factors on the promotion of safe faecal management in Nyando Sub-County. The area was characterized by frequent flooding which stemmed open defecation and reversal in sanitation access. Convergent design that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative techniques was used. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used for data collection. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for the analysis of quantitative data and the relationship between the variables examined using correlation analysis. Similarly, MAXQDA software was used for thematic analysis of qualitative data. Findings revealed that sanitation facility design, social factors and technological suitability had correlation coefficients of (r =0.507; P =019), (r =0.519; P =014) and (r =0.253; P=011) indicating significant influence and relationship of the variable on promotion of safe faecal management in Nyando Sub-County. The study also revealed that 18.4%, (n=30) of the respondents did not have toilets and 55.2%, (n=90) of the toilets were unimproved. The adjusted R-Square coefficient was 0.493 which suggested that the variables selected for the study explained about 49.3% of the total factors influencing safe faecal management in the area of study. The study concluded that choosing the right construction materials and raising of toilets above the flood level while considering the aspects of accessibility and user friendliness may increase their usage during floods. Subsequently, bridging the socio-economic gaps and sensitization of the community on the need for improved sanitation is key to solving the existing sanitation inequalities. Finally, the study recommended further research on other factors affecting the promotion of safe faecal management in Nyando Sub-County and other suitable sanitation solutions to reduce the impact of flooding on sanitation facilities and public health in the study area.