Challenges Facing Uptake of Hand Washing With Soap Programme in Schools in Tana Delta Sub County

Abstract

The focus of this research project was to determine the challenges facing uptake of hand washing with soap programme in schools in Tana Delta Sub County. Premised on ,this research was guided by objectives including to determine school children's perception of dirt, to establish school children risky hygiene practices , to determine school children motivational factors to hand washing with soap and to establish school children knowledge on the importance of hand washing with soap. The research project was conducted in Tana Delta Sub County. It applied descriptive design of research. The target population was 550 respondents but 10 % of the population was a representative of the study population which was 55respondent. Data was collected using questionnaires and collected data was organized in terms of variables and each response counted. This research project formulated some recommendations which when implemented will upscale uptake of hand washing with soap programme in schools. Despite the importance of hand washing with soap in the prevention of diarrheal diseases among school going children, the problem we have is that hand washing with soap programmes are not being prioritized in schools. When it comes down to changing good hygiene practices, children, the segment of society so often the most energetic, enthusiastic and open to new ideas-can act as agents of change by taking the hand washing lessons 'learned at school back into their homes and communities. Data was collected using questionnaires with a set of questions administered by the interviewer to the respondents. The questionnaires were administered to the teachers by the enumerators and after filling of the responses, all the questionnaires were submitted to the researcher for analysis and compilation. Data was analyzed through the use of SPSS version 20, where both descriptive and inferential statistics such as means, standard deviations and correlations were done. The findings are presented in tables and figures and interpretations made in a continuous prose in explanations. Study findings revealed that challenges affecting uptake of hand washing with soap programme in schools include lack of soap provision in schools, water in adequacy, disappearance of soap and hand washing facilities. Major recommendations include provision and use of soap for hand washing for hand washing in schools, provision of enough water in schools as this program cannot pick if there is water shortage.