NIJAMSS peer-reviewed article

An Integrated Hygiene Model for Reducing Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Schoolchildren in Meru County, Kenya

Judith Naita Ngechu; Rosebella Onyango; Charles Wafula

Abstract: Background: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a concern where sanitation and access to safe water are limited. Objective: To describe changes in hygiene and food safety practices following a community health intervention in Meru County, Kenya, and assess the evidence available for a prevention model. Methods: The source study used a mixed methods, before and after intervention design across 11 sub-counties from December 2022 to May 2023. Six sub-counties received the intervention and five served as controls. Questionnaires, observations, stool examinations and key informant interviews were used. The submitted tables report 211 observations per group at each assessment for the behavioural indicators. Results: In the intervention group, the percentage reporting that they always washed hands after toilet use rose from 41.7% to 50.2%, before eating from 32.7% to 48.3%, and after playing from 33.6% to 44.5%. Corresponding control changes were 34.1% to 33.2%, 39.3% to 35.1%, and 28.4% to 35.5%. Boiling drinking water in the intervention group increased from 36.5% to 51.7%. Conclusion: The reported behaviours improved in several intervention domains, with mixed control trends. The discussion reports baseline protozoan prevalence of 51.2% and 55.1%, and helminth prevalence of 12.0% and 16.5%, in intervention and control groups respectively. Exact infection counts and follow-up prevalence are absent. The magnitude of an intervention effect cannot be calculated, and inconsistent regression tables require verification.

Keywords: Handwashing; Intestinal parasitic infections; Meru County; School health; Water, sanitation and hygiene

Journal

Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences

e-ISSN

3144-2196

Publication date

August 2026

Volume / Issue

Vol. 1, Issue 2

Paper number

031

Article type

Original Research

Published paper ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-031

Publisher

Nexus Academic Press

Access

Open Access

Full text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/archives-download/nijamss-vol-1-series-2-august-2026-paper-031.pdf