Browsing by Author "Omela, Leonard"

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    Social economic factors affecting the adoption of hygienic practices in the water supply and sanitation sector in Lindi district: the case of Milola A and B villages
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2013) Omela, Leonard
    This study on Socio-economic Factors Affecting the Adoption of Hygienic Practices in Water Supply and Sanitation was undertaken in two villages namely Milola A and B in Lindi District. In Tanzania water-borne diseases that are caused by poor sanitation and hygienic practices account for over half of all diseases and deaths affecting the people. The overall objective of the study was to investigate and establish socio-economic factors that constrain the adoption of hygienic practices in the water supply and sanitation sectors in Milola A and B villages in Lindi District. Multiple research methods were used for triangulation of information. The methods were: Focus Group Discussions, key informant and household interviews. Findings of the study revealed 4 major factors that constrain the adoption of hygienic practices and thus exposing people to diseases. The factors include: (i) Inadequate financial resources that make about 31 percent of the households fail to pay for water from the existing Milola piped water supply scheme hence using polluted water sources (ii) Lack of health education for awareness on causes of diseases and prevention that accounts for the existing false beliefs and practices whose total perceptions block the existing government health promotion efforts (iii) Long distance to piped water (45-60 minutes) instead of 30 minutes, the government service proposed level (iv) Inadequate water storage facilities were also observed as constraining factors. The study concludes that the existing improper hygienic practices can be prevented only if the following will be undertaken: (i) Joint formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in a participatory manner of an integrated community-based water supply and sanitation education programme by Government agencies working in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, villagers and other stakeholders (ii) Training of village technicians and youths as facilitators in the construction of low cost affordable standard ventilated pit latrines and ferro-cement tanks for storing water at household level (iv) TPP should finance the development of a joint water and sanitation plan and adaptation of health education materials for training local level technicians.