Gender implications of household inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation in Kaptembwo, Nakuru County

Abstract

Inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation widens the gender gap since it takes a heavy toll on households and especially women and children. This study aims at determining the gender implications of household inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation in Kaptembwo of Nakuru County. Specific objectives of this study include determining the implications of household inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation on children. This study also seeks to analyze the extent of household exposure to Gender Based Violence (GBV) while accessing safe water and improved sanitation. Also, this study aims to establish household economic implications of inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation. Kaptembwo, the study area, is a multicultural, low income, urban informal settlement located West of Nakuru with a total of approximately 150 dwellings. Data was collected using questionnaires then analyzed using quantitative methods. The findings of the study revealed the children are heavily affected by household inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation both health wise and their consistency in school attendance and performance. The girl child is more at risk because the boy child is favoured at her expense. Also, women, men and children are exposed to GBV while collecting domestic water and improved sanitation facilities especially after dark. Although inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation is not the main cause of GBV, it increases the risk of exposure. Physical violence is the most frequently experienced form of GBV and this can be attributed to the high number of fights, scratches and biting that occur in queues while collecting domestic water and waiting to use improved sanitation facilities. Sexual violence is reported to happen though not as frequently. The findings reveal that inaccessibility to safe water and improved sanitation also has great impact on the household economy. A lot of time spent on queues waiting to access safe water and improved sanitation could otherwise be used for productive works aimed at economic growth. Children have to stay out of school either due to water borne diseases or have to collect domestic water. A lot of resources are devoted to the treatment of diarrhoea in households, money which could have been used productively for the benefit of the household and the nation as a whole.