Influence of integrated water resource management on health of women in Karemo Division, Siaya District, Kenya
Abstract
Current and past approaches of water resources management (WRM) have proven inadequate for the global water challenges. These approaches are mostly sectoral management, where each sector (domestic use, agriculture, industry, environmental protection, etc.) has been managed separately, with limited coordination between sectors. These approach lead to fragmented and uncoordinated development of water resources. Given the above shortcomings with traditional water resources management approaches, Integrated Water Resources Management (lWRM) has emerged as a means of addressing the global water problems and working toward a sustainable future for water management. Women are the main users of water resources for domestic and economic activities and are the ones who bear the brunt when these sources are degraded.
This research project focused on influence of integrated water resource management (IWRM) on health of women in Karemo Division, Siaya District. It was not clear whether women in Karemo division were 'participating in integrated water resource management since the introduction of water sector reforms in 2002. In Siaya district water resources have continued to depreciate in spite of the initiatives made by the government in restructuring the water sector and also the establishment of a project by WaterCan to improve water and sanitation in the area. It was therefore important to investigate influence of integrated water resource management on health of women in Karemo Division.
Objectives of the study were to establish extent to which participation as an aspect of integrated water resources management influence health of women in Karemo Division, Siaya District, to investigate how awareness as an aspect of integrated water resource management influence health of women in Karemo Division Siaya District, to examine the extent to which economic tools as an aspect of integrated water resource management influence health of women in Karemo Division, Siaya District, to assess extent to which access to water as an aspect of integrated water resource management influence health of women in Karemo Division, Siaya District. Descriptive survey is the research design that was used.
The target population was households in Karemo Division where a sample size of 384 households was selected for the administration of research questionnaires to 384 women. Only 371 women responded to the questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used to select women in households. Data was analyzed through descriptive survey where frequencies and percentages were used. Cross tabulation was also done to show the relationship between the aspects of integrated water resource management on health of women. This was done by an aid of a statistical package called SPSS and excel. Data was presented in form of tables and reports. The study found that 82.48% of the women were still not participating in water projects and as a result their health was also affected.
The studyalso found that those participating were at less risk of contracting water related illnesses. Women who could not buy water were also at risk of getting water related illnesses because of use of brown water which is considered dirty while; most women still drank untreated water. However proper hygiene practices in terms of washing hands were being practice thus reduced the risk of respondents contracting water related illnesses. In conclusion integrated water resource management has therefore not improved the health of women in Karemo because it has not been embraced. Based on the findings, the study recommends that women should be encouraged to participate in integrated water resource management for good health outcomes- to be realized. It has been suggested that a study should be done on factors hindering the participation of women in integrated water resource management as it has not been embraced by women in Karemo Division.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5963]