How many times have you encountered a scenario where a child needs to relieve themselves and the parent/guardian instructs them to just do it next to where you are? A couple of them, right? Often times, the feces of children are less likely to be safely disposed than those of the general population. Consequently, most programs aiming to reduce the burden of Communicable diseases affecting the children across the world do not address the behavioral determinants of proper child feces disposal. Even the ones aiming to change the sanitation habits of adults often forget to address this fundamental Sanitation slit.
According to a recent research by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank Global Water Practice’s Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) in key countries, over the majority of 50 percent of households with children under the age of three years old reported to have unsafely disposed their children’s feces of the last time they defecated. Higher rates of unsafe child feces disposal were found in poor, rural households with the youngest children.
The analysis found out that even in households with access to toilets or latrines that meet global “improved” sanitation standards, sometimes leave their children’s feces in the open. Also, the burden of disposal of child feces is often left to women.
Why should we care?
Not often imagined, Children’s feces could be more risky than adults’ feces. This is due to the higher prevalence of pathogens in their fecal matter. Studies show that poor child feces management can result in substantial health impacts in children, including a higher prevalence of diarrheal disease, intestinal worms, enteropathy, malnutrition, and death.
Recommendations
While most sanitation programs focus on provision of latrine hardware and promotion of latrine use to eliminate open defecation, In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals, there is need for more attention to be paid to curb this issue if we are to eradicate open defecation 2030.
Sanitation programs should incorporate strong campaigns that will increase community awareness on proper disposal of children feces in both rural and formal settlements such as burying or disposing in latrines. Also, institutions should support Community Led Total Sanitation committees while carrying out objective measures towards the problem such as spot check observations.
Reference: National census 2019, UNICEF Reports. Kenya Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Reports
Comments