Socio-economic Factors Influencing Choices of Sanitation Technologies in Wajir County, Kenya. Halima Bashir Abdi Development Studies, University of Nairobi

Abstract

Adequate sanitation and improved hygiene are the most fundamental components of effective public health regime. Residents of rural areas in many developing countries struggle to solve problems of sanitation especially toilets as compared to those in urban areas who tend to have proper and modern sanitation as well as properly managed sewerage technologies. An increasing awareness worldwide on the environmental problems associated with inappropriate sanitation implementation has led to the development of various sanitation facilities founded on different technologies. Despite convincing efforts towards ensuring good health, economic and environmental factors have made adoption of various sanitation technologies difficult. The development of sanitation technologies has been faced by myriads of challenges due to resistance in embracing the project by many residents. The main objective of this research was to analyze the factors influencing the choice of sanitation technologies in Wajir Town. The study employed use of a sanitation ladder helps in identification on options for improving sanitation in different communities. Using a descriptive research design, the study targeted all the households in the entire five villages within Wajir town from which a sample size of 100 respondents was covered. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data through use of a research questionnaire and an interview guide. The analysis of quantitative data was done by use of descriptive statistics, while content analysis was applied on qualitative data. The study established that households’ characteristics determine the choice of sanitation technology in Wajir town. The study further found out that the most common sanitation option used by many residents of Wajir town was bucket toilet. In addition, the findings revealed that household’s income, employment status, type of soil and design of a sanitation technology were found to be key determinants in the choice of any type of sanitation facility. The research recommended that there is need to understand the effects of socioeconomic characteristics of the residents, since socio-economic features of individuals are found to serve as main drivers of their demand for improvement of sanitation technologies. The government and locals should devise more ways of creating wealth which can help them to improve their level along the sanitation ladder. There is also need for government, manufacturers, promoters and entrepreneurs to educate and sensitize people on the functions and benefits of a sanitation technology on offer.