| dc.description.abstract | Public participation is extensively recognized as essential for the success of sanitation
and water projects in rural areas of developing countries. Women, being the primary
users of water schemes in these areas, hold valuable insights into how water and
sanitation management can be improved. In recent years, the focus on women's
participation in sanitation in South Imenti has gained significant attention. Despite this,
evidence shows that women have been lagging behind in their involvement in sanitation
activities over the past decade. The study aimed to investigate how knowledge of
sanitation is influenced by gender, evaluate the determinants of women's participation in
sanitation development and governance, and assess the challenges hindering their
involvement. The research was voluntary, utilizing structured questionnaires and in
depth interviews for data collection. Purposive sampling was employed to select three
wards (Igoji East, Abogeta East, and Mitunguu) within South Imenti sub-county, with a
sample size of 384 determined using Yamane's formula. Simple random sampling was
used to select households in these wards. Data collection took place from December
2021 to March 2022, with a response rate of 78% from respondents aged 18 years and
above. Data analysis involved the Pearson Chi-Square test to examine the relationship
between gender and knowledge of sanitation. The results revealed a significant
association between these variables, with a p-value of 0.001 indicating that the observed
association was unlikely to have occurred by chance. The findings showed that 54.9% of
women had very little knowledge about sanitation, while 45.1% had some level of
knowledge. Additionally, 49.5% of respondents disagreed that women were participating
in sanitation activities, and only 16.3% agreed that women were involved, despite their
primary role as sanitation attendants at the household level. Women's contributions to
community sanitation activities were minimal and often overlooked. The study
highlighted various roles played by men and women in sanitation groups. Men were
typically responsible for decision-making, chairing meetings, mobilizing funds,
providing labor during construction, coordinating projects, organizing donor visits, and
contributing funds. They were also key actors during elections. Conversely, women were
mainly involved in domestic chores such as cooking for constructors, cleaning sanitation
facilities, entertaining guests during meetings, and leading prayers. Women were
excluded from policy and decision-making processes related to sanitation projects, often
due to entrenched community beliefs, practices, and norms. Several factors influenced
women's participation in sanitation, including financial rewards, sources of income,
influence from leaders, and fear of consequences. Challenges hindering their
involvement included tight schedules, age disparities, low literacy levels, and lack of
registration fees. Cultural practices and busy schedules further restricted women's rights
and freedoms in leadership and management roles. The study recommended promoting
girls' and women's education to empower them to take on leadership and managerial
positions, discouraging outdated cultural practices, implementing the 2/3 gender rule in
sanitation, and encouraging women's empowerment through training in sanitation
technologies. Both men and women should be included in community sanitation projects
to achieve the sector's goals and meet sanitation targets. This research provides valuable
insights into women's participation in sanitation, contributes to the literature, and offers a
greater understanding of women's roles in sanitation. It aims to reduce potential gender
discrimination and promote effective policy implementation | en_US |
