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ABSTRACT
Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have poor solid waste management systems, putting people living near dumpsites at higher risk of disease infections. Good risk perception could enhance individual- and community-level protection and prevention efforts. The objective of this study was to examine the levels and determinants of perceived health risk associated with exposure to solid waste dumpsites in Kenya. The level of risk was measured on a five-point Likert scale. The results showed that about 27% and 42% of the study population in Nairobi and Mombasa, respectively, perceive that they have little or no health risk from the nearby dumpsites. Study site, family size and wealth index were associated with risk perception in the multivariate analysis. A sizable proportion (42%) of the population living near dumpsites has lower risk perception. Health promotion interventions are needed to enhance risk awareness and perception in these communities.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for their financial support through the Urban Africa: Risk Knowledge (ARK). The Urban ARK Programme was funded by ESRC and DFID Humanitarian Innovation and Evidence Programme, grant code: ES/L008777/1. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the donors. Besides, the authors also extend their acknowledgement to the research team and field workers who made the implementation of the Urban ARK project and data collection for this study possible. We also wish to express our gratitude to the study participants for agreeing to participate in the study and providing us with this rich information.
Disclosure of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest