Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Kasokoso Community Members Towards Solid Waste Management.

Abstract

Background: Solid waste management should be everybody‟s responsibility in the community if disease spread is to be minimized. However, in spite of these interventions, the problem of the poor disposal of solid waste still persists in Kasokoso village, Kampala district. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices of Kasokoso Community members towards solid waste management between June 2016 and July 2016

Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study involving both quantitative and qualitative was employed to assess the the knowledge, attitude and practices of Kasokoso Community members towards solid waste management between June 2016 and July 2016. A total of 395 households‟ heads in Kasokosoko were included in this study using probability, simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: From the assessment done 52.4% of the respondents admitted that improper waste management pollutes the sources of water thus causing typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery. 65.6% that improperly managed waste attracts rodents such as rats and mites, which transmit diseases like plaque and Lassa fever, 75.5%) reported that accumulation of solid waste is linked to health hazards, 51.9% of the respondents disagreed that solid waste is dangerous to human and human health, 54.7% agreed that solid waste management is the work on the government, 51.4% were dissatisfied by the way solid wastes are handled by KCCA, 51.9% of the respondents disagreed that solid waste is dangerous to human and human health, 86.5%) collected their waste in a polythene bag (kavera), 87.6% of the respondents did not segregate solid waste compared to only 12.4% who segregated waste during generation, 78.7% of the respondents reported disposing their waste in open land fill while open burning of waste

Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for going educational, informational and improving on the solid waste management of the respondents to address the knowledge gaps and poor practices of solid waste in order to improve on the way solid waste is managed in the area.