Assessing Factors Contributing to Inadequate Number of Handwashing Facilities in Shimano Ward of Nkeyema District in Western Province, Zambia

The research study was conducted in Shimano ward in Nkeyema District of Western Province in the Republic of Zambia demarcated into 8 wards with 11 Health facilities. The aim of the study was to assess factors contributing to inadequate number of handwashing facilities and its effects on diarrheal diseases and failure to attain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. It is documented that washing hands with soap at all critical times is needed to prevent diseases. Currently statistics shows that only 47% of Zambian people have access to adequate sanitation including hand-washing facilities and use, further in 2005, it was estimated that only 13% of the rural households in Zambia had access to proper household sanitation facilities but there is limited data available on hand-washing practices. Hand washing with soap is the most cost effective intervention in preventing and control diarrheal related disease outbreaks as compared to toilet use and drinking clean, adequate safe water supply. The study used a questionnaire survey combined with field observation method to collect raw or primary information and reviewing of reports. A descriptive cross-section study design was implored targeting 30 villages of the Shimano ward and Health catchment area A study population involved 300 household heads in 30 villages and the purpose of the study was to assess factors contributing to inadequate number of handwashing facilities and its effect on attaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages and disease incidences in Shimano ward. The study results revealed that a total of 101 households 67.33% of the households had handwashing facilities and 86 households had soap, representing 57%, while 12 households had ash (8%.). The study further revealed that 141 households had toilets, representing 94% therefore the toilet coverage is very high, followed by hand washing facilities at 67.3% and hand washing facilities with soap at 57%. In conclusion, the study revealed that indeed the number of Hand washing facilities are inadequate at 67.33% but better than the findings in Tanzania that indicated 1.2% coverage with 57% availability of soap again better than the results in Tanzania at 8%.hence attributing to factors inadequate commitments to construct HWFs with soap.