WATER S U P P L Y A C C E S S I B I L I T Y A N D A S S O C I A T E D F A C T O R S AMONG HOUSEHOLDS OF JIGJIGA TOWN, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Access to improved water source for drinking and other domestic uses is a major developmental challenge in many developing countries. In Ethiopia due to its different geological formations and climatic conditions water distribution is uneven spatial and temporal across the nation, i.e. there was water scarcity in the Eastern part of the country. Even though accessible water supply is a critical issue to ensure the quality of life, there no study conduct on Water accessibility in Jigjiga town before, therefore study was aimed to assess water accessibility to fill the gap. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the accessibility of water supply and its associated factors among residents of Jigjiga town from May 15-30/2016. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was conducted to study a randomly selection of 408 households and14 key informant. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling technique was used for quantitative and qualitative approaches respectively. Data were collected by using pre-tested questionnaire and face-to-face interview with illegible household member. Data were analyzed using descriptive tests, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. All independent variables with p- value of < 0.3 at bivariate analysis were included in multivariate model to determine the predictors of the outcome variable, and to control the confounding factors. Result: Overall 56.7% of households reported using an improved water source as the main source of drinking water supply within recommended distance and only 35.2% of households consume 20liters per person per day and less than half households (44.8%) affordable to water supply access (pay less than five percent of their income). Combining these three indicators results only a fifth of households (19%) of households accessible to water supply that meet standard. Head of household with higher level of education [(AOR=4.2, 95% CI (1.0, 18.06)] and those having private pipe water supply [(AOR=19.1, 95% CI: (5.1, 71.39)] were identified as positively significant associated factors with water accessibility compared to those who cannot read and write and those that share water from neighbor pipe respectively. Conclusion and recommendation: Access to water supply in the study area was very low. So that local authorities must pay special emphasis to improve accessibility and reliability of water supply and closely supervise and monitor private water vendors. Further in-depth studies should also be encouraged to look for improved interventions