Access to Clean Water and Health Outcomes : A Case Study of Ngaratuko Village , Baringo County

Abstract

Across the globe, approximately 884 million people lack access to safe water sources and more than 2.6 billion people do not have access to sanitation (a system for the collection, transport, treatment and disposal or re-use of human excreta and associated hygiene). This study sought to establish the contribution of access to clean drinking water on the health outcomes of the members of households in Ng’aratuko village Baringo County Kenya. The study aimed at examining the effect of availability of clean water on health outcomes of residents of Ng’aratuko village, to establish the effect of quality of water on health outcome, to determine the effect of affordability of water on health outcome of residents of Ng’aratuko village and to examine the effect of distance to nearest clean water source on health outcome of residents of Ng’aratuko Village. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population constitutes a total of 172 respondents drawn from 172households in Ng’aratuko village. The study employed a structured questionnaire to collect data from the sampled respondents. Prior to conducting the study the researcher carried out a pilot study with the aim of verifying both the reliability and validity of the research instruments. The obtained data was edited and coded into the SPSS (Statistical Packages for Social Sciences) ready for processing and analysis. The findings were presented in form of frequency tables, descriptive statistics tables and inferential statistics tables. The study revealed that Ng’aratuko village lacks piped water system that supplies the villagers with clean water. It also revealed that water collecting points are not reliably safe and clean. In addition water collection points in Ng’aratuko Village are not protected from health hazards. The study further revealed that quality of water used by Ng’aratuko residents is not monitored for quality: residents are not aware of how they could treat water at home; Ng’aratuko village residents were exposed to health hazard due to water from untreated sources: water sources in this village were regularly polluted and Ng’aratuko village residents do not have access to modern sanitation facilities. Monetary cost of accessing water during the dry season is a concern too for the residents. In addition,Ng’aratuko Village residents thinks collecting water for daily use is an exhausting activity meaning it also affects their psychological health. The study recommends that development agents, the county and national Government and natural resource planners should build a piped water distribution system in Ng’ratuko village in order to improve health for the residents. They should also make water collection points safe so as to improve the health of residents in Ng’aratuko Village while residents of Ng’aratukovillage should be sensitized on how to treat water at home as well as take care of their water collection points. Authorities should develop strategies to control sources of contamination is the study area as well as put in place long term plans sanitation intervention and facilities that would make the village less prone to preventable health hazards. Authorities should support acquisition and installation of water storage among residents to ensure that water storage facilities are clean. The findings of the study will be significant to both the Government, Non-Governmental Organization and Kenyan citizens.