Background Safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are an essential part of preventing and protecting human health during infectious disease outbreaks, including the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, adherence to COVID-19 measures, including washing hands using soap and proper waste disposal, no doubt can improve containment of the virus. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties in Kenya. A total of 612 quantitative data were collected using a mobile data collection tool Open Data Kit. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to examine factors associated with WASH practices and control of COVID-19 in Kenya. Results More than half of the respondents were from Kilifi, 431 (70.4%) were female and the mean age was 38.2±14.8 y. Households in Kilifi were most likely not to have enough water, while Mombasa households were more likely to pay for water. Sanitation coverage was 47.6%, with more than half sharing sanitation facilities. Sharing of latrines was significantly associated with county and income level. Accessing soap was worse compared with the month prior to the survey, only 3.9% had their garbage collected by formal service providers and only 17% reported wearing any protective gear while handling waste at home. Conclusions Water is disproportionately available in the two counties, with low sanitation coverage. There is low knowledge on hand washing and inadequate waste disposal services.

Background The parasitic disease tungiasis, caused by the flea Tunga penetrans, remains an important public health problem among children and the elderly. The study assessed the factors influencing prevention and control of tungiasis infection among school-age children in Kwale County, Kenya. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five villages in Lunga Lunga subcounty among 538 children ages 5–14 y. The study employed a mobile application tool in collecting sociodemographic, knowledge, perception and practice data on prevention and control of tungiasis with frequencies and bivariate and multivariate regression analysis used. Results The prevalence of tungiasis was found to be 62.1% (328/528), with fathers’ education level, place of residence and wearing shoes being factors associated with infection. Those who wore shoes were less likely to be infected compared with those who did not (odds ratio 0.059 [95% confidence interval 0.29 to 0.12]). Children living in Dzombo B and Kinyungu were less likely to be infected with tungiasis compared with those living in Bandu, holding other factors constant. Conclusion Creating awareness of the cause of tungiasis remains of key public importance. Hygiene promotion, including wearing of shoes and the general cleanliness of the environment at the community level, needs to be implemented.

Background: Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Kenya. Environmental factors are critical in creating a medium for growth and spread of schistosomiasis vectors. The study investigated the environmental factors influencing prevention and control of schistosomiasis infection in Mwea West Sub County, Kirinyaga County-Kenya. Methods: A multi stage sampling was used to identify four hundred and sixty-five (465) household. Analytical descriptive cross-sectional design that utilised quantitative data collection method was used. Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and analysed using Chi square tests or Fisher’s exact tests where applicable. Results: Study results indicated a significant association p<.001 between household level of education, members being affected by floods during the rainy season and schistosomiasis infection. The result further indicates level of significance (p<0.047) in the association between sources of water in a household and schistosomiasis infection. No level of significance was posted between having a temporary water body in the area p (=.072) and schistosomiasis infection. In addition, there was no significant association between proximity to the nearest water source, p=.074 and proximity to the nearest health facility p=0.356 with schistosomiasis infection. Conclusions: The study recommends carefully designing safe water sources in order to match the goal of effectively controlling and reversing the trends of schistosomiasis infections. The community should be made aware of the risk factors of schistosomiasis including water utilised in the household’s alongside raising health seeking behaviours for diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis as a way of reducing the spread of infection.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a severe acute respiratory disease. The Kenyan Ministry of Health (MoH) put in place measures that included mandatory face masking, hand and cough hygiene and social and physical distancing to reduce disease transmission and increase prevention efforts. The primary objective of this study was to determine how sociodemographic characteristics affect knowledge and practice of the above measures. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess water, sanitation and hygiene practices for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties, Kenya. Data collection was accomplished through a mobile data collection tool. Principal component analysis was used to create a wealth index using data on asset ownership and housing characteristics. Bloom cut-off points of 80–100%, 60–79% and ≤59% were used to determine knowledge and practice. Results Of the 612 households, 339 (55.4%) were from Kilifi County and 273 (44.6%) were from Mombasa County. A total of 431 (70.4%) were female and the mean age of the household members was 38.2±14.8 y. Almost all (99.2%) respondents were aware of COVID-19, with 60% knowing prevention, symptoms and persons at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Females had the highest knowledge of COVID-19 and were likely to practice prevention and control measures, unlike males. Age was significant (p&lt;0.05) with knowledge and practice. Conclusions The sociodemographic characteristics of populations play a key role in behavioural aspects as far as prevention and control of COVID-19 are concerned. There is a need for partnerships between the MoH and county governments to put in place a multisectoral community approach to advance feasible behavioural interventions among targeted populations towards combating the spread of COVID-19.

Aim: Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic led countries into engaging public health guidelines as a strategy towards preventing infections. Hand washing, social distancing and masking remains key measures for infection control and prevention of the COVID-19. Strict adherence to public health infection control and prevention protocols is necessary to contain the spread at the community stage of the virus. National and County governments in Kenya directed efforts and resources in implementing numerous infection control and prevention measures in public places and institutions. The study assessed adherence to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) guidelines among the residents of Kilifi and Mombasa County in combating COVID-19 infections. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted between 25th November and 4th December 2020 in ten sub-counties in Mombasa and Kilifi counties, Kenya. Data was collected using Open Data Kit (ODK) mobile application. Results: Forty observations were done in Kilifi (45 percent) and Mombasa (55.0 percent). More than a third (37.5 percent) of the observations were done at the household level, followed by public buildings (30.0 percent), market/shopping centers (30.0 percent) and bus terminus (2.5 percent). More than half of the occupants in both Kilifi 55.6 percent and Mombasa 68.2 percent observed physical distancing of 1.5 meters, however, low screening of temperature at the entrance was noted. The general observation shows only 55.6 percent of the premises visited had a hand-washing station in Kilifi while 68.2 percent in Mombasa County. Most of the hand washing stations had running water and people did proper handwashing in both Counties. Only 30.0 percent of the hand station at Kilifi County had soaps. Conclusion: COVID – 19 will continue to pose serious public health challenges as many premises still don’t adhere to some of the guidelines. Multi-sectoral feasible approaches towards ensuring further adherence on all the public health guidelines should be given priority to control and prevent COVID-19 infection