PERSONAL HYGIENE AND IT’S ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN IN RURAL KEBELES OF DIRE TEYERA WOREDA, HARARI REGIONAL STATE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Poor personal hygiene could be a major problem in developing countries and numerous high-risk behavior among women and young children. In Ethiopia, significant number of women have poor hygienic practices due to multifaceted reasons. It is little comprehend about hygiene practice in Ethiopia. However, evidence in Eastern Ethiopia particularly in Dire teyera, Harari Regional State is limited. Objective: This study was intended to assess the personal hygiene and its associated factors among women in rural kebeles of Dire Teyera Woreda, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, August 15, 2021 to September 15, 2021. Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural Kebeles of Dire Teyera, Harari Regional State. A total of 362 women were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire through face to face interview. The collected data were checked, coded, entered and cleaned using Epi-Data version 3.1 Software and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis using descriptive statistics and analythical methods. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine predictors of the outcome and declared as statisitically significant at the p-value less than 0.05 at 95% Confidence Interval. Results: The overall personal hygiene practices was 53% (95% CI: 48.8-59.3). The odds of women with college and above education were 3.52 times higher to practice of personal hygiene compared to those women who cannot read and write (AOR=3.52, 95% CI; 1.05, 8.03). The odds of women with clean household were 3.64 times higher to practice of personal hygiene compared to those women who cannot clean household (AOR=3.64, 95%; CI: 2.37, 9.75). The odds of women with goverenement empoleyer occupation were 2.97times higher to compare to those women who house wife (AOR=2.97, 95%; CI: 1.56, 7.82). were statisitically significant associated with women hygiene practice. Conclusions: The study conculeded that nearly half of the study participants had good personal hygiene practice Education status, Occupational status and clean of household were significantly related to personal hygiene practice among women. Therefore, tailored health education and promotion on personal hygiene is suggested as intervention within the rural community