SCHOOL HYGIENE PROMOTION APPROACHES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PUPIL’S HYGIENE PRACTICES IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN DAGORETTI, NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine hygiene promotion approaches that were being employed by public primary schools in Dagoretti North and South Sub Counties in Nairobi City County and whether the approaches influenced hygiene behaviors that were practiced by pupils.
 Methodology: The study applied a descriptive cross-sectional design. Questionnaires were administered to 384 pupils with the aim of collecting data on hygiene knowledge and practices. A questionnaire was also used to collect data on hygiene promotion approaches from 32 school health teachers. Pupils’ demographic data was collected from school head teachers. Five key informant interviews were conducted with Nairobi City County public health and education officers and a staff from a non-governmental organization that was implementing school hygiene activities in Dagoretti South and North Sub Counties. Observation checklists were used to triangulate information on hygiene practices by pupils. Analysis was done using SPSS software.
 Findings: Results indicate that 95.6% of the pupils practiced hand washing at critical times, 98.7% used the toilet while 85.4% safely disposed solid waste. The study reveals that water, sanitation and hygiene in schools approach is implemented by 31.3% of the school health teachers. There was a significant relationship between school health clubs approach and hand washing at critical times (p=0.04) and proper solid waste disposal (p=0.02). One way analysis of variance established that there is a significant difference among hygiene promotion approaches and pupils hygiene knowledge, F(5, 162) = 6.41, p <.05 ƞ²p = 0.076.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study establishes that different hygiene promotion approaches have the potential to influence hygiene practices and in particular, hand washing at critical times and proper solid waste disposal amongst pupils. The study recommends the use of school health clubs approach for hygiene promotion at public primary schools