| dc.description.abstract | The study focused on the problem of improper household waste and sludge disposal in low -income residential areas of Nairobi. Using the case of Industrial Area slums, Nairobi, respondents were interviewed to answer the overall research question on the key physical, social and environmental factors that exacerbate improper household waste and sludge disposal in the slums of Industrial Area. The study was pegged on one general objective, which aimed to establish the status of sludge and household waste disposal in slums. More specifically, the study attempted to understand the implications of unmanaged waste on slum residents; assessed the impact of unavailability of waste disposal facilities on waste management; and evaluated the potential role of NGOs in waste management in slums. The study is guided by two theories namely: social action and culture of poverty.
The study adopted simple random sampling and stratified sampling techniques to get a sample of 190 respondents. Quantitative data were obtained from the respondents through the use of interview schedule supplemented by observation, key informants and photography, which generated qualitative data. The generated data were used to test the study's three hypotheses, which tested the relationships between: adequacy of waste disposal facilities and magnitude of improper waste disposal; poor environmental conditions and prevalence of communicable diseases; and absence of a comprehensive community-based strategy of waste management and improper waste disposal. The chi-square test was used for testing the hypotheses while the Contingency Coefficient measured the association between the various variables.
The survey findings underscored the magnitude of improper household waste and sludge disposal as enormous. Further, the findings revealed that unavailability and inaccessibility of waste disposal facilities are important physical factors that impede waste management in slums. Furthermore, lack of a vibrant community based waste management strategy by slum residents was found to be an important factor that explain improper waste disposal in slums. The study also established that diseases associated with improper waste disposal were important implications of unmanaged waste. _ Based on the study's findings, several
, recommendations were made. There is need for a comprehensive waste management strategy, adoption of a housing scheme by development agencies, improvement of infrastructure, provision of waste disposal facilities and poverty alleviation. In addition, there is need to adopt preventive measures of disease control to curb the high disease morbidity in slums. | en |
