Household Water Treatment Practice and Associated Factors in Gibe District Southern Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Household water treatment practice or managing water at the point-of-use provides a means of improving drinking water quality and preventing diarrheal diseases. However, evidence regarding household water treatment practice and associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in Southern Ethiopia are limited. This study was, therefore, designed to assess household water treatment practice and associated factors among households in Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 627 households in Southern Ethiopia. A stratified random sampling technique was used in this study and a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data about household water treatment practice and associated factors among selected households through face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests and binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the level of association. Results: This study revealed that the level of household water treatment practice was 34.3% with 95% CI (30.7-38.1) and boiling was the most common method of household water treatment in the study area. Educational status of having formal education (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.34-3), withdrawing water from storage vessel by dipping (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.2-2.87) and frequency of fetching water 3 or more times and above a day (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.45-4.88) were significantly associated with household water treatment practice. Conclusion: Household water treatment practice is low in the study area. Educational status of having a formal education, drawing water by dipping, and those who collect their drinking water 3 or more times a day were predictors of household water treatment practice. Thus, efforts should be made to increase the level of household water treatment practice especially among those with no formal education and further studies should be conducted to understand the behavioral factors associated with household water treatment practice.

Determinants of Household-Level Water Treatment Practices in Southern Ethiopia

“…When compared to the studies conducted in Ethiopia, the finding is slightly lower than the previous studies, particularly in Burie, Northwest Ethiopia (44.8%), Gibe (34.3%), and Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia (34%). 21 , 32 , 33 Whereas the current finding was slightly greater than a study conducted in Dabat, Northwest Ethiopia, 23.1%; Degadamot, North West Ethiopia (14.2%); and Harar, Eastern Ethiopia (16.5%). 23 , 34 , 35 This slight difference might be due to a difference in the time period and sample size and a variation in the level of community awareness of household-level water treatment.…”

Household Water Treatment Practice and Associated Factors in Rural Households of Sodo Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…Households who fetched water twice per day were 2.8 times more likely to practice HWT than households who fetched water more than twice per day. This is in agreement with a study from north-west Ethiopia 5 , 26 and Nigeria. 36 The possible explanation might be due to the fact that those who were fetching water more frequently might have higher tendency to store their water, which in turn empowers them to treat their water, by storing.…”

“…This finding is consistent with the study done Northwest Ethiopia (44.8%), 5 Nigeria (45%) 36 whereas it was lower than studies revealed from Zambia (72.6%), Peru 70.9%, 37 and a study in Western Pacific region (66.8%). 27 But it was higher than the findings from Ethiopian demographic health survey 2016 which is 7%, 34 Southern Ethiopia Gibe district revealed 34.3%, 26 northern Ethiopia Degadamot district 14%, 38 and in developing countries 33.3%. 39 It was also higher than studies revealed from outside Ethiopia such as in Biye community, Kaduna State of Nigeria 32.4%, in Eastern Mediterranean region 13.6%, 27 and in African region 18.2%.…”

“…This finding is in line with the study done in Northern and southern Ethiopia. 5 , 26 The possible explanation might be due to the fact that those who withdraw water from the storage container by dipping thought that dipping the container for drawing water increases the risk of contamination, and they might get information from health professionals on the possible ways of water contamination. Since hands can enter the jar, causing water contamination and to avoid those contaminants, respondents may employ either of the methods for HWT.…”

“… 25 In Ethiopia, various studies found that efforts to minimize water-borne diseases by treating drinking water at the source were insufficient to reduce water-borne diseases in the country unless drinking water was treated and sanitary handling is practiced at home. 26 …”