Analysis of the Extent of Jigger Infestation among students in Public day secondary schools of Bumula subCounty, Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

Jigger infestation is still posing a major threat among public day secondary school-going students of Bumula Sub-County. Jigger infestation causes pain, discomfort, and severe cases of disabilities to students, thus denying them the opportunity to go to school. The study sought to determine the extent of jigger infestation among school-going students in public day Secondary schools of Bumula Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya. The study used Ecological Systems theory and adopted a mixed-method research design. The study targeted 10,000 students between 15-20 years from public day secondary schools. A sample of 370 students was obtained from the study of the target population using Krejcie and Morgan's 1970 formulae. The study purposively sampled 20 Key informants including community health promoters, head teachers, and local Chiefs to participate in the study. The study employed primary data which was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data was collected by studying the progress records, attendance registers, and end-term report forms. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 27 to determine the findings of the study. Data was presented in frequencies, graphs, tables, and charts. The study results revealed that there are high cases of jigger infestation among students in schools, with 88% of the respondents indicating they know someone with jigger infestation in their school. The study recommended that schools establish and strengthen health clinics and conduct regular check-ups on students to identify and address the issue. Schools to further collaborate with communities to maintain clean surroundings and engage parents and community leaders through health campaigns to ensure a holistic approach to preventing jigger infestation. Should these findings be adopted by relevant stakeholders, they will inform policymakers, teachers, parents, and the community in managing and mitigating jigger infestation in public secondary schools.