Abstract
Background Religious institutions found in the community not only uphold belief and cultural values but can also act as a force for positive change and development. Improved sanitation and hygiene are crucial in these institutions to decrease preventable infections due to unsanitary conditions. However, there are no studies among religious institutions on availability of latrines. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess latrine availability and associated factors among religious institutions in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Method An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. Multistage sampling was used to sample 385 religious institutions. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire and observation checklist. Logistic regression was fitted, and an odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) with p value less than 0.05 was used to determine the predictors of latrine availability. Analysis was carried out using the SPSS 20TM software package. Results In this study, latrine availability was 32.8%. It was significantly affected by currently saved money towards having a latrine (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.25, 0.42]), any messages seen, heard, or received on sanitation and hygiene (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI [0.38, 0.51]), and the place where messages were seen, heard, or received (AOR: 2.95, 95% CI [1.11, 5.55]). Conclusion Latrine availability was very low when compared to the national target of 100% among religious institutions and was affected by the currently saved money towards having a latrine, any messages seen, heard, or received on sanitation and hygiene, and the place where the messages were received. Information regarding latrine availability should be provided to the community visiting religious institutions through available channels and promotion of practical models.
Highlights
Religious institutions found in the community uphold belief and cultural values but can act as a force for positive change and development
Lack of sanitation facilities compels people to practice open defecation, which increases the risk of disease transmission and perpetuates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. e countries where open defection is most widespread have the highest number of deaths of children aged under 5 years as well as the highest levels of malnutrition and poverty and big disparities of wealth [3]. e disease burden associated with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene is estimated to account for 4.0% of all deaths and 5.7% of the total disease burden in disability-adjusted life year (DALY) worldwide, principally through diarrheal diseases, schistosomiasis, trachoma, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infection [4]
In Ethiopia, up to 60% of the current disease burden is attributable to poor sanitation, where 15% of total deaths are from diarrhea, mainly among the large population of Journal of Environmental and Public Health children under five years
Summary
Lack of sanitation is a serious health risk, affecting billions of people around the world, the poor and disadvantaged. E disease burden associated with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene is estimated to account for 4.0% of all deaths and 5.7% of the total disease burden in disability-adjusted life year (DALY) worldwide, principally through diarrheal diseases, schistosomiasis, trachoma, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infection [4]. About 1.8 million people die every year due to diarrheal diseases, and children under the age of 5 account for 90% of diarrheal deaths. 88% of diarrheal diseases are attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene [5]. In Ethiopia, up to 60% of the current disease burden is attributable to poor sanitation, where 15% of total deaths are from diarrhea, mainly among the large population of Journal of Environmental and Public Health children under five years. A study from India showed that a possible source of infection for a confirmed case of cholera in a 3-day-old neonate was by holy water given to the baby [8]. us, religious institutions might be a point of infection for the community served there, and despite concerted efforts by governmental and nongovernmental organizations, water and adequate sanitation still remain a challenge for these institutions. e study was conducted to determine latrine availability and associated factors among religious institutions in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia, aiming to establish baseline information. is will be very important for local decision makers in order to obtain an overview of the current status and what should be done in the future
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