HOUSEHOLD SANITATION PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN GOLA ODA WOREDA, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Sanitation practices are essential for maintaining health, preventing diseases and contributing to long-term development. Poor sanitation conditions contribute significantly to the spread of infectious diseases, making it a critical public health issue in most low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. There is evidence paucity on level of household sanitation practices and related factors in the study area. Objective: This study aimed to assess household sanitation practice and identify the associated factors in Gola Oda woreda, East Harerghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 498 households from September 19- October 6, 2024. Six out of 18 kebeles were selected using a simple random sampling method. Within each selected kebele, a systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data collection involved a pre-test structured questionnaire and an observational checklist. Analysis was performed by using SPSS version 25, with bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions used to identify the associated factors, considering a significance level of p-value < 0.05. Results: The study found that 53.5% (95 CI: 49.2%, 58.2%) of households exhibited good sanitation practice. Factors significantly associated with sanitation practice included a diploma or higher education (AOR = 14.389, 95% CI: 1.74-118.80), grades 9 to 12 education (AOR = 4.034, 95% CI: 1.13-14.40), grades 1 to 4 education (AOR = 2.361, 95% CI: 1.33- 4.19), the presence of a latrine superstructure (AOR = 4.133, 95% CI: 1.24-13.80), regular follow-up visits from health extension workers (AOR = 13.452, 95% CI: 2.36-76.75), good knowledge of sanitation (AOR = 4.218, 95% CI: 2.00-8.89), and positive attitudes towards sanitation (AOR = 3.927, 95% CI: 1.89-8.15). Conclusion: - This study revealed that just over half of the households in the study area practice good sanitation. However, a significant portion still faces challenges. The study underscores the critical need for targeted educational and awareness programs to improve sanitation practices in the area. By bridging knowledge gaps, fostering positive attitudes towards sanitation, enhancing sanitation infrastructure, and ensuring ongoing support from health extension workers, significant advancements in public health can be realized