Abstract
The use of sanitation facilities is known to interrupt the transmission of fecal-to-oral related disease. Health improvement comes from the proper use of sanitation facilities, not simply their physical presence. This is best achieved through regular use of clean and well maintained latrines. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess latrine utilization and associated factors in the rural community of Chencha district, Gamo Goffa Zone in February 2013. Sample population of 420 households with latrine facilities were selected from 5 sub districts (Kebeles). Multistage systematic random sampling method was used. The structured questionnaire was used for data collection. All types of available latrines were pit latrines. Of which 67.4% latrines were functional and from which 46.4% required maintenance. Among 415 households, overall latrine use was 60% and the remaining 40% households were not using latrine. However, over all persistent utilization was 31.08%. Main reasons for non-use or non-persistent use of latrine were lack of functional latrine, stay out for farming and lack of supra structure of latrine. self-initiation (AOR (95% CI) = 6.480(2.772-15.379), pp= 0.003), length of years since latrine was constructed ((AOR (95% CI) = 0.219(0.133-0.362) PP<0.001) were the major predictors affecting utilization of latrines. In conclusion, Latrine status and utilization in rural community of Chencha district was found to be very low and needed attention to promote hygiene and sanitation behavior in the community.
Highlights
Over 50 different infections are potentially transmitted from an infected person to a healthy one by various routes involving excreta
The 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 (DALYs) in worldwide, principally through diarrheal diseases, schistosomiasis, trachoma, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infection
The global Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for sanitation has been missed by almost 700 million people and 68% of the global population uses an improved sanitation facility
Summary
Over 50 different infections are potentially transmitted from an infected person to a healthy one by various routes involving excreta. Lack of sanitation facilities compels people to practice open defecation and this increases the risk of transmission of diseases. The global Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for sanitation has been missed by almost 700 million people and 68% of the global population uses an improved sanitation facility. About 2.1 billion people have gained access to an improved sanitation facility since 1990 and 82% of the global urban population and 51% of the rural population, uses improved sanitation facilities. Seven out of ten people without improved sanitation facilities, and nine out of ten people still practicing open defecation, live in rural areas. The least developed countries did not meet the sanitation target, and only 27 % of their current population has gained access to improved sanitation since 1990. In 2015, 2.4 billion people still lack improved sanitation facilities [5]
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