Thesis:

Determinants of bedbug infestation and perceptions of affected participants among the heads of households in Nakuru county, Kenya

Bedbugs are small insects that feed on human and small animal blood; bedbugs are generally lively at nighttime when people are sleeping. People bitten by bedbugs reported lack of sleep, depression, stress, and clinical symptoms such as skin rashes and allergic reactions. Nakuru has been hit by quite a number of bedbug resurgences which have been in the public domain. Locally, According to health workers in the area, more than 5000 households were suffering from bedbug infestation and were using hot water as a treatment for bedbugs and they reported itchy and loss of sleep during nighttime. Assessing the factors that contribute to bedbug infestation and the opinions of those who are impacted among the heads of households in Nakuru County, Kenya, was the aim of the present investigation. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used in the investigation. Selected participants and household heads in seven estates in Kenya's Nauru County were the study's target population. For this investigation, a sample size of 422 respondents was employed. Key informants, focus group discussion guides, and questionnaires given by the researcher were used to gather data. The data was analyzed using statistical software for social science (SPSS) and tools for analyzing themes and sub-themes. Tables, graphs, and pie charts are used to display the results. Bedbug prevalence in Nakuru was 53.3%. Nakuru West Subcounty had more bedbug infestation compared to Nakuru East Sub county 68% and 32% respectively. Most households had been infested by bedbugs more than once in the last 3 and 6 months 239(57%) and 143(34%) respectively. Purchase of second-hand furniture and clothes was associated with bedbug prevalence (p value=0.002 and 0.00 respectively). There was no specific season/ time for bedbugs. Most respondents reported seeing bedbugs in the dry/ hot seasons because bedbugs reproduce more eggs and hatch. Further, bedbugs are able to move around since there is no rainwater. Bedbugs had negative effects on health; mostly of respondents suffer from Lack of sleep 307(73%), itching 199(47.2%) and stress and allergic reaction 92(23%), 71(17%) respectively. Many respondents changed their behavior to avoid bedbug infestation. Changed behaviors included keeping off areas and items likely to be infested with bedbugs, that is, not purchasing second-hand items such as clothes, and furniture and not traveling to certain places among others. Only 14% of the respondents reported bedbug infestation to the public health department. The study concludes that the prevalence of bedbug infestation was 53.3% and declined within a period of six months from 84%. The study recommended that the Nakuru County Government should run a campaign to sensitize the locals on bedbugs spreading and breeding to aid reduce the levels of isolation among residents. Further, the campaign should fight stigma and encourage residents to report bedbug-associated issues to relevant authorities.