| dc.description.abstract | The unplanned growth of Nyalenda informal settlement, in Kisumu Municipality, is
rapid. Consequently, this urban dwelling faces numerous problems such as high
concentration of human population that affect the environment and public.health either in
the form of over-exploitation of natural resources for survival or environmental
degradation through accumulation of wastes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were
to: determine the environmental and public health problems associated with the
unplanned growth of Nyalenda informal settlement; examine whether the unplanned
growth of Nyalenda had led to bacteriological pollution of surface and ground water
resources; and assess the effects of unplanned growth of Nyalenda on vegetation cover
over time. The study area had approximately 11,822 households (family units averaging 5
persons each) from which a sample size of 76 household heads were interviewed.
Purposive sampling was used to collect in-depth information on environmental and
public health problems and vegetation cover changes over time. Water samples were
randomly selected from 40 wells and 18 samples from Wigwa stream, from ih July 2008
to 22nd August 2008, for laboratory analysis to determine the level of pollution by
Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Vibrio cholerae. Data was collected, using in-depth
interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions and observations. Quantitative data
generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, range, percentages and
frequencies. Qualitative data were analyzed by identifying the themes, categories and
patterns, then further scrutinizing the data to determine the adequacy of information in
answering the research questions. The study revealed that the most common
environmental diseases in Nyalenda informal settlement mentioned by the respondents
are; malaria (90%), diarrheal diseases (36%), typhoid (32%), chest complications (6%).
The causes of these diseases were attributed to poor sanitation (58%) and pollution of
water (36%), by the respondents. The respondents also attributed the mode of spread of
these diseases, except malaria which is vector borne, to consumption of polluted water
(80%). Laboratory analysis revealed that water from the wells had an average of 17
coloniesl1 00 ml of sample of Escherichia coli with a range of 0-68 coloniesl1 OOml
sample. Only 12% of wells sampled had nil E. coli colonies. The average count of
organisms in stream water was 6 colonies 11OOml sample, with a range of 0-14
coloniesl1 OOmlsample. The average levels of the colonies observed were above safe and
recommended limits for drinking water and other uses. The results also showed that
88.9% of the stream samples were positive for Ecoli presence. Tests for Salmonella spp
in water confirmed the presence of the organism in both well (20%) and stream (27.7%)
samples. Vibro cholerae detection in the laboratory showed that all the samples from both
the wells and the stream waters tested negative. Clearly, 76% of the respondents werein
agreement that vegetation cover had deteriorated, tremendously, over time in Nya1enda
and they, further, attributed this trend to human settlement (80%). The study also found
out that many wetlands that supported several plant species had been drained to give way
to human settlement There is need to disinfect all the water wells before embarking on
"boil water" campaign, proper lining of the pit latrines and proper protection to prevent
surface water from entering the wells and residents of Nyalenda should avoid use of
Wigwa stream water for domestic purposes. | en_US |
