Access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services is the most effective mechanism to reduce many infectious diseases. WASH in schools related to better educational outcomes although adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services were unavailable to millions of school-age children in Ethiopia. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the level of WASH coverage and identify factors affecting access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 82 school facilities. A structured questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to gather the data. Water samples were taken from the schools' water storage. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data. In this study, 74.7%, 61. 3% and 37.3% of the schools had access to basic drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services, respectively. Additionally, 21.3%, 29.4%, and 30.7% of the schools had access to limited drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services, respectively. However, 4%, 9.3%, and 32% of the schools lacked water, sanitation, and hygiene services, respectively. We discovered that schools with male heads were 7% less likely to have access to basic hygiene services (AOR = 0.07 with 95% CI 0.01–0.5) than those with female directors. In addition, schools with hygiene and environmental health clubs had an 11.8-fold higher access rate to basic hygiene services (AOR = 11.8 with 95% CI 1.35–104) than schools without such clubs. Besides, schools that conduct WASH lessons at least once a week were 8.63 times more likely to use basic hygiene services (AOR = 8.63; 95% CI 1.18–63.22) than schools that did not. This study offers scientific evidence that could be used for sound decisions to fill the school WASH gaps. This is a unique study in determining the level of WASH coverage and identifying factors affecting access to basic hygiene services. The investigation provides some insights into how access to WASH services can be improved at the grassroots level. Federal and regional governments should implement effective interventions that assist schools to attain Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030. School administrators and other partner organizations should take proactive measures to enhance and maintain the WASH services.

In the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia, improved water is the main source of water for household purposes. Access to improved water closer to their homes benefits the community in many ways. It improves their health status, saves their time and energy, and improves their productivity in jobs and education they are engaged in. However, due to natural and human activities, improved water sources do not always deliver good quality of water. It can be contaminated by different pathogenic microorganisms and chemicals. The result indicated that 44.7% and 50.9% of the samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli and enterococci respectively, and from the sanitary condition survey, 57.6% of the water sources exhibited from intermediate-to very high-risk level. And the risk priority matrix identifies 95 (27.9%) samples with high risk and 54 (15.9%) of the samples with very high risk. The main risks identified at those

Reducing inequalities in all its forms is one of the key principles of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). However, the 2030 SDG Agenda has been a real challenge in addressing inequalities in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services. There is a disparity in the use of WASH services in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify demographic factors affecting the use of Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) ladders for WASH services. In this study, a total of 5350 households were included. Households having heads with vocational education levels were 2.9 times higher in use of basic drinking-water services ((Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.9 with 95% CI 1.6–5.1) than household having heads who could not read and write. Besides, households living in urban areas were 21.7 times more likely to use basic drinking-water services (AOR = 21.7 with 95% CI 16–30) than in rural parts. Further, households with merchants’ heads were 2.1 times higher to use basic sanitation services (AOR = 2.1 with 95% CI 1.5, 3.1) than households with farmers’ heads. Moreover, households having higher monthly income per head were 2.9 times higher in utilizing basic sanitation services (AOR = 2.9 with 95% CI 2.32–3.58) than the poorest households. Similarly, households with female heads were 1.5 times higher in using the JMP ladder for basic hygiene services (AOR = 1.5 with 95% CI 1.24–1.71) than households with male heads. Additionally, respondents who live in urban areas had 2.8 times higher use of basic hygiene services (AOR = 2.8 with 95% CI 2.26–3.54) than those in rural areas. Many demographic factors that influence the use of the JMP ladders for water, sanitation, and hygiene services were identified. The use of surface water, open defecation practice, unimproved sanitation, and no hygiene services were positively associated with illiteracy. The findings suggest that state authorities should initiate firm WASH policies and strategies to achieve the SDG 6 and 10. Additionally, the government should apply effective WASH interventions that consider demographic disparities.

Background Tobacco, one of the risk factors for non-communicable diseases, kills 8 million people each year. Like other sub-Saharan countries, Ethiopia faces the potential challenge of a tobacco epidemic. However, there is no organized data on the prevalence of tobacco use in the country. Therefore, this study aims to determine adult tobacco use in Ethiopia. Methods The study was conducted using the WHO and CDC GATS survey methods. Complex survey analysis was used to obtain prevalence and population estimates with 95% confidence intervals. Bivariate regression analyses were employed to examine factors related to tobacco use. Results The overall tobacco use percentage was 5.0% [95% CI (3.5, 6.9)], of which 65.8% [95% CI (53.4, 76.3)] only smoked tobacco products; 22.5% [95% CI (15.7, 31.2)] used smokeless tobacco only; and 11.8% [95% CI (6.5, 20.4)] used both smoked and smokeless tobacco products. In 2016, more men adults (8.1%) used tobacco than women did (1.8%). Eight out of eleven states have a higher smoking rate than the national average (3.7%). Gender, employment, age, religion, and marital status are closely linked to current tobacco use (p-value< 0.05). Men adults who are employed, married, and mostly from Muslim society are more likely to use tobacco. Conclusion The prevalence of tobacco use is still low in Ethiopia. However, the percentage of female smokers is increasing, and regional governments such as Afar and Gambella have a relatively high prevalence. This calls for the full implementation of tobacco control laws following the WHO MPOWER packages. A tailored tobacco control intervention targeting women, younger age groups, and regions with a high proportion of tobacco use are recommended.

Introduction Globally, food and waterborne diseases remain a critical public health problem, although the issue is severe in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify factors associated with food safety practices and the drinking water quality of food establishments. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 160 food outlets were enrolled using a systematic random sampling method. A structured questionnaire and observational checklist were used to collect data. Descriptive, binary, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Drinking water samples were taken from the food establishments' drinking-water storage and were bacteriologically and chemically tested. Heat-sterilized bottles of 250 ml capacity for bacteriological and 1000 ml plastic bottles for chemical parameters were used to collect drinking-water samples. Results In this study, food establishments with female managers were 3.7 times higher in good food safety practices than those with male managers (AOR = 3.7, with 95% CI 1.33–10.21). Moreover, food establishments that owned trained food handlers in sanitation and hygiene were 4.8 times more likely to be in good food safety practices than those that did not have trained food handlers (AOR = 4.8, with 95% CI 1.37–17.00). Besides, food outlets with large service were 9.6 times higher in good food safety practices than those with small service (AOR = 9.6, with 95% CI 2.2–42.1). On the other hand, food outlets which had married managers were 0.3 times less likely to be in good food safety practices than those food establishments which had single managers (AOR = 0.3, with 95% CI 0.11–0.93). In this study, only 51% of the food establishments had good food safety practices. Besides, 29.5%, 16.8%, and 7.4% of the food outlets’ drinking-water samples were positive for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli, respectively. Conclusion Many vital factors influencing the food safety practice of food establishments were identified. Almost half of the food outlets had poor food safety practices. A significant number of drinking water samples from the food outlets' were contaminated. Therefore, food establishments should implement continuous monitoring and inspection systems to improve food safety practices. In addition, the government should implement an effective regulatory system to improve the food safety practices, water quality, sanitation, and hygiene services of the food outlets.

Background: Consumption of vegetable plays important role in human health. Above 60% of Addis Ababa, vegetable demand is covered by smallholder farmers who grow various vegetables by using the Akaki River as their main water source for irrigation. However, applying faecally contaminated water for irrigation could expose fresh vegetable consumers to many health problems. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of irrigation water and freshly produced vegetables. The study assessed the quality of Akaki river water and vegetables. Fresh vegetables including Ethiopian Kale, Lettuce, Cabbage, and Spinach were collected from 14 farmlands, irrigated with Akaki River water, in the dry and wet seasons. Using standard methods, analysis of E.coli, Non-E.coli, Total coliform, fecal coliform, and Total Aerobic Plate Count were done among the Akaki River water and vegetables. Result: The finding of the study indicated that all fresh vegetables were contaminated with total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Total aerobic in the dry and wet seasons. The overall mean count of E. coli and Non-E. Coli from water samples were 2.09 and >3.48 log10 CFU 10 mL−1. The mean count of TC, FC, and TAC on sampled vegetables were 3.22, 1.37, and 4.72 in the dry season, and 3.87, 2.57, and 5.09 log10 CFU per gram in the wet season, respectively.Conclusion: The Akaki River has been contaminated with non-E. Coli & E. coli coliforms and did not meet the WHO guideline criteria for safe irrigation. The microbial contamination of vegetables was found high and exceeded the HACCPTQM and ICMSF limit values for safe consumption. This calls for farmers and the consumer has to insist on properly processed/stored/sliced fresh vegetables needs to be aware.

This study aimed to assess the level of JMP ladders for WASH services. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Forty-four healthcare facilities were enrolled. From each healthcare facility, water samples were collected directly from water storage facilities. In addition to the interview, an observational checklist was used. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test were conducted to analyze the data. The coverage of advanced and basic drinking water services in healthcare facilities was 4.6 and 70.4%, respectively. However, the healthcare facilities’ access to advanced and basic sanitation services was nil. Similarly, 61.4 and 88.6% of the healthcare facilities had no hygiene and waste disposal services, respectively. While 2.6, 4.5, and 75% of healthcare facilities had advanced, basic, and limited environmental cleaning services, 18.2% lacked environmental cleaning services. Water samples of 15.9, 11.4, and 6.8% of the healthcare facilities were found positive for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli, respectively. The WASH services of the healthcare facilities were very low and not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target. Healthcare facilities could be sources of healthcare-associated infections. Hence, the government and other concerned bodies should take urgent action to improve WASH services.

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