An Assessment Of Hygiene Knowledge And Practices: A Case Study Of Choto Informal Settlement In Katima Mulilo

ABSTRACT

About 2.4 billion people globally live under highly unsanitary conditions and practice such poor hygiene that the risks of their exposure to the spread of infection are enormous. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of environmental sanitation over the past years and has developed key materials for the edification of policy makers and technical people dealing with these issues. These materials include sanitation guidelines, “best practices” in hygiene documentation, and general health promotional materials (WHO, 2011). There is no documented evidence which describes either the practice of hygiene by people in the Namibian informal settlement of Choto, in Katima Mulilo, or their knowledge of the subject. The purpose of this study was an exploration and description of the knowledge and the practice of hygiene among these residents. An explorative, qualitative study was done. The research sample was comprised of residents of Choto, 18 years of age and older. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and the participants’ statements were recorded by the researcher. The following research ethics were observed during the study: informed consent, permission from authorities, confidentiality and voluntary participation. References from existing literature were also sought.