Factors affecting hygiene and sanitation practices in the families in Obalanga sub-county, Amuria district

Abstract

This study focused on factors affecting hygiene and sanitation practices in the families in Obalanga Sub-County, Amuria District. The Objectives of the study were to establish whether cultural practices, poverty, and literacy levels affects hygiene and sanitation practices, and strategies of improving in the families in Obalanga Sub-County. The researcher used a case-study research design with a qualitative approach. The population of the research constituted the CDO, LC I & III, Sub-County chief, Sub-County health Assistant, NGOS and households. In this study in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted and FGD with the Households. The researcher used interview guides and focus group discussions to collect data about the three specific objectives and their corresponding questions. According to the study findings and discussions it is clear that different cultural practices affects hygiene and sanitation practices in the families in Obalanga Sub-County. The cultural practices include; defecating in the bush instead of latrines; Habits of not washing hands and utensils before and after eating of visiting latrine/helping one‟s self or doing any dirty work; and communities sharing most of the things like water sources or containers with animals as this transmits diseases. The findings confirm that in an attempt to adopt hygiene and sanitation practices in the families, poverty has always interfered a lot and this makes many households to concentrate on how to earn a living more especially improve on food security. The findings show that literate households find it hard to adapt to hygiene and sanitation practices in the families irrespective of its effects. The identified strategies include; Giving information about communicable diseases; Promotion of hand hygiene practices through providing education on proper sanitation and hygiene, campaign of construction of community public latrines; Construction of affordable health facilities in the community can help improve hygiene and sanitation practices in the families in Obalanga Sub-County, improvement of Network system within the villages; and encouraging the formation and active involvement in developmental community group meetings may also help improve hygiene and sanitation practices in the families in Obalanga Sub-County. The researcher recommends that the Government and the Civil Society organizations should work jointly to support the adaption hygiene and sanitation practices. The district leaders should through the Health vote and department should budget funds to sensitize the public on the values of adaption of hygiene and sanitation practices, through organizing Radio talk shows, village outreaches visits.