Accessibility of anal cleansing materials for public primary school pupils in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONAnal cleansing is the hygienic practice of cleaning the anal area after defecation. Inaccessibility to anal cleansing materials leads to inappropriate methods resulting in faecal hand contamination. This study assessed the accessibility of anal cleansing materials for public primary school pupils in Kajiado County, Kenya.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe researchers used a descriptive cross-sectional study approach, applying a cluster sampling technique to sample eighteen (18) schools to the study. Three hundred and eighty-four (384) pupils were selected from the schools using simple random sampling. The Headteacher and a teacher in charge of school health were purposively sampled due to their knowledge of school resources about hygiene. A total of thirty-six teachers participated in the key informant interviews.Data were analysed using SPSS version 21, and Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis at p<0.05 significance level.RESULTSAccessibility to anal cleansing materials was low at 22.9%. Pupils' class (p-value = 0.036) and level of material awareness (p-value <0.001) influenced accessibility. For Institutional factors, material sensitisation was associated with accessibility (p-value = 0.001). The following sustainability measures were proposed; sensitisation on anal cleansing materials, provision through cost sharing, management of the materials by class teachers and prefects, and continued support by government ministries of health and education.CONCLUSIONAnal cleansing materials access was low; pupils' predisposing characteristics and institutional factors influenced access.RECOMMENDATIONWe recommend that school management and ministries of health and education improve access to anal cleansing materials in schools and develop sustainability measures.