Sanitation practices of households (Kenya)

A poorly constructed and unhygienic toilet may deter its use. Over 5 million people in Kenya defecate in the open. This study sought to profile the sanitation practices among households with regard to containment and disposal systems, the challenges faced during toilet construction and the approaches undertaken to improve sanitation practices. The study found that most of sanitation facilities were pit latrines without slabs and walls, hence they did not guarantee privacy and hygiene since they were poorly maintained. Children and women avoided using facilities that did not have privacy and those that were located outside and far from their houses. Challenges such as unavailability of materials, cultural beliefs that elderly men were not to be seen going to toilets, financial constraints, as well as the soil type influenced the type of sanitation facility that was adopted. Men were the key decision-makers on sanitation issues, a situation which lead to construction of toilets which were not friendly to women and children. Presence of sanitation committees ensured proper disposal of human waste. It was concluded that innovative approaches to toilet construction, training, subsidies, hygiene behavioral change communication, and inclusion of women in decision making could improve sanitation practices in Tigania West Sub-County.