FACTORS INFLUENCING IMPLEMENTATION OF DENTAL HYGIENE AWARENESS PROJECTS IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN EMBU COUNTY, KENYA
Mary Wanjiru Munene - Masters of Art in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Josephine Ngunjiri - School of Continuing and Distance Education, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years - five times more common than asthma. The main purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing implementation of dental hygiene awareness projects in public primary schools in Embu County, the study will focus on following variables; To determine how stakeholder participation, availability of finances, top management and human resource influenced implementation. The research employed mixed research methodology. The participant in this study was the head teachers, teachers, and employees and dental practitioners. The target population in this study was 334 participants and a sample size of 182. The main instrument of data collection in this study was questionnaires and interview schedules. The items in the piloting of instruments were done using 10% of the sample population. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical methods as depicted by the use of mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics that helped to make conclusions.Quantitative data was chronologically arranged with respect to the questionnaire outline to ensure that the correct code will be entered for the correct variable. Data was then cleaned, tabulated and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21.0). The data was presented using tables and written discussions. The expected outcome of this study is that it’s hoped that the recommendations would go a long way towards the improvement of the oral health. The findings showed that 73 respondents (40.6%) say that stakeholder participation influences to a very low extent in the implementation of the project while 57 respondents (31.7%) say that the influence is to a low extent but 50 respondents (27.8%) say that the influence is to a moderate extent. It was evident from the responses gathered that stakeholder participation is not considered to be a major determining factor in the dental awareness project. The findings show that 59 respondents (32.8%) said that availability of finances influences to a moderate extent in the implementation of the project while 121 respondents (67.2%) agree to a great extent. None of the respondents said that there is a low extent of influence. The findings show that 26 respondents (14.4%) said that top management support influences to a great extent in the implementation of the project while 154 respondents (85.6%) agree to a very great extent. The findings show that all the respondents were of the opinion that human resources are of great influence to the implementation of dental hygiene awareness projects. 89 respondents (49.4%) strongly agree that there human resources are a key asset in the project while 91 respondents (50.5%) agree as well.
