LATRINE UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF ODA BULTUM DISTRICT, WEST HARERGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: The use of sanitation facilities is known to interrupt the transmission of fecal-tooral related disease. Health improvement comes from the proper use of sanitation facilities, not simply their physical presence. Proper disposal of human excreta remains a public challenge especially in low income countries like Ethiopia including the study area. However, despite having good latrine facility coverage, there is repeatedly occurrence of diarrheal diseases. There was a limited data related to level of latrine utilization and associated factors in the study area Objective: To assess latrine utilization and associated factors in the rural communities of Oda Bultum District, West Harerghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used from February 15 to March 15, 2018. A total of 695 households were selected using systematic random sampling technique. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection and the data were collected by trained data collectors using a face-to-face interview. Data were computed using descriptive and bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression model. For all statistical tests, p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as a cut of point for statistical level of significance. Results: Latrine utilization among latrine owned households was72.6%, 95% CI: (69.2, 75.8). Educational status of mother [(AOR=2.17,95% CI (1.05,4.47)], frequency of latrine cleaning [(AOR=2.58, 95% CI :(1.02,6.55)], Hygienic condition of the latrine[(AOR=3.86, CI 95 %: (1.60,9.33)], households self-initiation for latrine construction [(AOR=2.30, 95%CI: (1.23,4.32)], latrines having a superstructure[(AOR=2.16, 95%CI: (1.29, 3.64)], latrines having closing door[(AOR=4.77, 95%CI: (2.17,10.50)] and presence of school children [(AOR=2.14, 95% CI : (1.18,3.86)] were significantly associated with latrine utilization of the households. Conclusion: Latrine utilization level among the households was not much satisfactory. The use of latrine was higher among households that had clean latrines, households having latrines that had a superstructure, cover on the squatting hole , a closing door, educational status of mother who can read and write, presence of school children, household’s construction of latrines by selfinitiation and cleaning their latrine always. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the status of latrines for better utilization