Household Drinking Water Treatment, Safe Storage Practice and Associated Factors among Households of Boko Town, Fedis Woreda, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Three-fourth of health problems in Ethiopia are communicable diseases due to polluted water and poor storage practices. Consuming unsafe water results in infections that lead to illness or death from water borne diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess household drinking water treatment, safe storage practice and associated factors among households of Boko, town Fedis woreda Oromia Region Eastern Ethiopia, From March 2022, up to December 2023 Method: A Community- based cross sectional study design was used among the community of Boko, town in Fedis district. All households in Boko town were the source population from which 418 households were randomly selected. Systematic random sampling method was used to select households. The data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression (COR and AOR) were employed to analyze the data and factors associated with household water treatment and safe storage practices. Result: From a total of 418 respondents more than half of the respondents (63.0%) had good knowledge about method of water treatment at household level, and nearly 37%%) did not know about water treatment and safe storage practice at household level. However, from a total of 418 study participants 57% of them were not practice household water treatment and safe storage at their household level and while 43% of respondents were practice household water treatment and safe storage, and the main reason that respondents reported for not using the method is flat taste of treated water (23.6%) and costly (15.5%). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who have good knowledge about method of water treatment at household levels were 1.45 higher in practicing the method at household level than those who have poor knowledge about method of water treatment method at household level. (AOR= 1.45, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.66). Those respondents who were literate were 2.15 times higher in practicing water treatment and safe storage than illiterate (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.69). Respondents who have got married were 1.8 times higher in practice of water treatment and safe storage than respondents who have not married (AOR = 1.83 95% CI: 1.11, 3.10). Conclusion: As this study result showed that more than half of respondents know water treatment methods at household level but not practiced. Being married, educational status, Occupational status, and knowledge of respondents about method of water treatment and safe storage practice, and water drawing technique were significantly associated with water treatment and safely storage practice. Therefore, provision of practical-based onsite behavioral change health education for the community in the study area particularly for women who are frequently handling water is paramount important