SUSPECTED CHOLERA OUTBREAK AMONG OVER 5 YEARS OF AGE PEOPLE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN eRER wOREDA, SOMALI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Cholera is acute, secretary diarrhoea caused by infection with Vibrio cholerae of the O1 or O139 sero-group. Cholera kills half of affected individual without medical intervention but preventable by hygiene and sanitation Objective: To indentify suspected cholera outbreak among over 5 years age and associated factor in Erer woreda, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia in October, 2020 Methods: A community based case-control study design was employed among over 5years who are resident of suspected cholera affected villages in Erer woreda. The total sample size was 228 (76 cases and 152 controls 1:2 ratio). Data were collected by a pre-tested and structured data collection tools. The collected data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and export to SPSS 25 software for analysis. Univariate analysis was used for descriptive statistics. Bivariate and multivariable analysis was done to identify statistically significant association with factor associated with suspected cholera outbreak Result: Result: A total of 228 study participants were recruited for the case control study of which 76 were suspected cholera cases and 152 were controls with 100% non refusal participants. The mean age of cases and controls was 33.41(SD= 16.56) and 71(46.7%) respectively. Logistic regression shows monthly income 500-9000 (AOR=10.808, CI: 2.539, 45.987, P<0.001), income b/n 1000-1900 (AOR =2.847, CI: 1.055-7.628, p=0.039), lack of toilet (4.626, CI: 2.044, 10.468, p=0.0001), hand dug well water (AOR =5.258, CI 1.867-14.810, p=0.002), deep well water source (AOR=5.371, CI: 1.912-15.084, p=0.001) and water purifying (AOR2.089, CI:1.030-4.237,p=0.041) were independent associated factors of cholera. Also hand after using toilet (AOR=0.198, CI: 0.068-0.574,P= 0.003), and hand washing before preparing food (AOR=0.117, CI: 0.028-0.481, p=0.000) were independently protective factor of suspected cholera outbreak in Erer woreda. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that there were factors associated with suspected cholera outbreak like income of household, knowledge of cholera, water source, latrine availability, hand washing and water purifying. Improvement in awareness creation on cholera prevention and controls related to water treatment, hygiene and sanitation conditions was crucial to combating the suspected cholera epidemic‟. Overall, the findings recommended the strategic role of a multi-sectoral approach in the design and implementation of public health interventions aimed at preventing and controlling of cholera in the Erer woreda.