Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Latrine Intervention on Childhood Diarrheal Health in Nyando District

A study to measure the effectiveness of the Community Led Total Sanitation latrine intervention in Nyando District, Kisumu County, Kenya was conducted using a condensed cohort study approach. Interviews were administered with 210 parents or caregivers in the 100% latrine using community and 216 parents or caregivers in the non-latrine using community at the household level. The survey ascertained information on childhood diarrhea illness, water safety, latrine behaviors, breastfeeding, demographics, hygiene, behaviors, and co-morbidities. Water testing was conducted to determine E. coli and turbidity levels for 55 water sources in the locations. Anthropometric data was obtained for each child subject. The non-ODF community had a non-significant slightly higher risk of diarrhea compared to the ODF community. Covariates including childhood HIV positivity, children stool disposal, and income were positively associated with diarrhea in the non-ODF community. The non-ODF location had safer water than the ODF, suggesting that the lack of association between ODF status and childhood diarrhea might due to unsafe water in the ODF community.