Prevalence of Open Defecation Practice and Associated Factors Among Households in Geshiyaro Project Implementation Sites in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Open defecation is a significant global challenge, impacting public health, environmental sanitation, and social well-being, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. It is the second-largest cause of disease burden worldwide by facilitating the spread of germs that cause diarrhea diseases. Studies examining open defecation practices are insufficient, especially in areas implementing Ethiopia's Geshiyaro project. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the status of open defecation practice and associated factors in the study area. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2023. The total number of households included in this study was 7995. A structured questionnaire and observational checklist were used to collect data. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using STATA version 16. Results: The study found that 16.5% of households practiced open defecation. The following factors were significantly associated with the occurrence of open defecation: residence (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.26-1.92), education (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.72), age (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.41-0.69), knowledge on diarrhea prevention (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.17-1.50), marital status (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.97), and awareness creation about WASH services (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.71-2.25). On the other hand, no significant association was observed between the occurrence of open defecation and the household's income (AOR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.93-1.23) or the head of household sex (AOR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.78-1.12). Conclusion: Open defecation remains a critical public health concern in Ethiopia's Geshiyaro project sites. Various factors influencing this practice have been identified. Targeted interventions are needed to enhance access to safe sanitation facilities and promote awareness of WASH services, aligning with SDG 3 target 3, and SDG 6 target 2.

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and drinking water contamination risk levels in households of Bishoftu Town, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human right and essential to control infectious diseases. However, many countries, including Ethiopia, do not have adequate data to report on basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Although contaminated drinking water spreads diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and dysentery, studies on drinking water contamination risk levels in households are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, closing this gap needs investigation. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 5350 households were included. A systematic, simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants. The information was gathered through in-person interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Furthermore, 1070 drinking water samples were collected from household water storage. Results: This investigation revealed that 9.8%, 83.9%, and 4.9% of households used limited, basic, and safely managed drinking water services, respectively. Besides, 10.2%, 15.7% and 59.3% of households used safely managed, basic and limited sanitation services, respectively. Yet, 10.6% and 4.2% of households used unimproved sanitation facilities and open defecation practices. Also, 40.5% and 19.4% of households used limited and basic hygiene services. On the other hand, 40.1% of households lacked functional handwashing facilities. In this study, 12.1%, 26.3%, and 42% of households' drinking water samples were positive for Escherichia coli, fecal coliforms, and total coliforms, respectively. Also, 5.1% and 4.5% of households' drinking water samples had very high and high contamination risk levels for E. coli, respectively. We found that 2.5% and 11.5% of households and water distributors had unacceptable fluoride concentrations, respectively. Conclusion: The majority of households in Bishoftu town lack access to safely managed sanitation, drinking water, and basic hygiene services. Many households' water samples had very high and high health risk levels. Hence, the government and partner organizations should implement water and sanitation safety plans.

Associations of WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Service Ladder service levels and sociodemographic factors with diarrhoeal disease among children under 5 years in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associations of WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Service Ladder service levels and sociodemographic factors with diarrhoeal disease among children under 5 years in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Bishoftu town, Ethiopia, January-February 2022. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1807 mothers with at least one child under 5 years were included. Sociodemographic and WASH variables were collected using a structured questionnaire. 378 drinking water samples were collected. OUTCOME: The response variable was diarrhoeal disease among children under 5 years. RESULTS: The 2-week prevalence of diarrhoeal disease among children under 5 years was 14.8%. Illiteracy (adjusted OR 3.15; 95% CI 1.54 to 6.47), occupation (0.35; 0.20 to 0.62), mother's age (1.63; 1.15 to 2.31), family size (2.38; 1.68 to 3.39), wealth index (5.91; 3.01 to 11.59), residence type (1.98; 1.35 to 2.90), sex of the child (1.62; 1.17 to 2.24), child's age (3.52; 2.51 to 4.93), breastfeeding status (2.83; 1.74 to 4.59), food storage practice (3.49; 1.74 to 8.26), unimproved drinking water source (8.16; 1.69 to 39.46), limited drinking water service (4.68; 1.47 to 14.95), open defecation practice (5.17; 1.95 to 13.70), unimproved sanitation service (2.74; 1.60 to 4.67), limited sanitation service (1.71; 1.10 to 2.65), no hygiene service (3.43; 1.91 to 6.16) and limited hygiene service (2.13; 1.17 to 3.86) were significantly associated with diarrhoeal disease. CONCLUSION: In this study, diarrhoea among children is a significant health issue. Child's age, drinking water service, residence type and hygiene service were the largest contributors with respect to the prevalence of diarrhoeal disease. This investigation provides information that could help to inform interventions to reduce childhood diarrhoea. The findings suggest that state authorities should initiate robust WASH strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3 agenda.

Trichotomy of awareness, outlook and practice of food handlers towards food and water safety in food establishments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Food and waterborne diseases are the commonest global public health problems. Specifically, in Ethiopia, public health problems associated with deterioration of food and water safety situations are much more complicated due to poverty, economic and environment related risks. Awareness, outlook and practice of food handlers are the three important factors that play major roles in the occurrence and outbreak of food borne diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate awareness, outlook and practice of food handlers towards food and water safety. METHODS: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among food handlers of Addis Ababa city administration. In this study, 416 participants were selected using a stratified, simple random sampling technique; and were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Linear Regression Model and analysis of variance were used for data analysis. RESULTS: In this study, 55.5%, 66.1% and 60.6% of the food handlers had good awareness, outlook and proper hygiene practices respectively. This study revealed that, 17.5% and 23.1% of the respondents did not know about food and water borne disease respectively. Only 39.4% of the participants had proper practice of covering mouth with tidy cloth when they cough. Moreover, 75.7% of the food handlers reported that they did not wear personal protective devices during the working time. Predictor variables like educational status and length of work experience were correlated positively and significantly with awareness. However, being married was correlated negatively with awareness. CONCLUSION: Assessing awareness, outlook and practice of food handlers regarding food and water safety is a vital activity to reduce public health problems. Significant number of food handlers had poor awareness, outlook and practice towards food and water safety. There is a call for enhancing the awareness, outlook and practice of food and water safety to achieve an excellent practice. Better food and water safety policy and firm regulatory actions are needed.

Determinants of Sanitation and Hygiene Status Among Food Establishments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Despite advancements in food science and technology, foodborne disease remains one of the major public health problems. Poor sanitation and hygiene conditions of food establishments are the major causes for the occurrence of foodborne disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate core determinants of sanitation and hygiene status among food establishments. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Addis Ababa city. A stratified random sampling technique was deployed to select 413 study participants. Data were collected through interview and using observational checklist. Sample size was determined by using a single population proportion formula. To analyze the data, binary logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. In all analysis, P-value less than .05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study revealed that 57.4% of the food establishments were under poor sanitation status. In the multivariable analysis, presence of trained managers on hygiene and sanitation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.10 with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.41-15.45), presence of renewed licenses (AOR = 3.07 with 95% CI: 1.18-7.99), absence of bureaucratic function to obtain permission to renew the food establishment buildings (AOR = 2.43 with 95% CI: 1.25-4.70), and presence of at least 10-m distance between toilet and kitchen (AOR = 9.19, at 95% CI: 5.63-15.02) were associated significantly with sanitation and hygiene status. CONCLUSIONS: Above average of the food establishments were found to be in poor sanitation and hygiene state. Many core determinant factors that influence sanitation and hygienic status of food establishments were identified. The researchers suggest that formal training on sanitation and hygiene for managers of food establishments should be provided to reduce the occurrence of foodborne diseases. Moreover, strong food and water safety policy and strategy should be promulgated to improve sanitation and hygiene status of food establishments.

Diarrheal disease and associated behavioural factors among food handlers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Diarrheal diseases are threat everywhere, but its frequency and impact are more severe in developing countries. Diarrhea occurs world-wide and causes 4% of all deaths and 5% of health loss to disability. In 2016, it was the eighth leading cause of mortality. Moreover, data from the World Health Organization indicated that diarrheal diseases are causes for an estimated 2 million deaths annually. Therefore, this study aimed to assess diarrheal diseases and associated behavioural factors. METHOD: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted. A stratified random sampling method was employed to select 1050 study participants. Participants were interviewed using structured questionnaire. To analysis the data, binary logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The two weeks prevalence of diarrhea was found to be 3.4%. Further, 1.6%, 10.5%, 10.7% and 9% of the food handlers had acute watery diarrhea, cough, an infection of runny nose and incidence of any fever respectively. Regular hand washing after toilet (AOR = 0.13 with 95% CI: 0.024, 0.72), using toilet while wearing protective clothes/gown (AOR = 5.39 with 95% CI; 1.59, 18.32), habit of eating raw beef and raw vegetables (AOR = 6.27 with 95% CI: 1.89-20.78), type of toilet (AOR = 4.07 with 95% CI: 0.29-6.67 were associated significantly with diarrhea. CONCLUSION: This assessment proved to be an essential activity for reduction of community diarrheal diseases, as a significant number of food handlers had diarrhea. Good sanitation, hygiene practice and a healthy lifestyle behavior can prevent diarrhea. A strong political commitment with appropriate budgetary allocation is essential for the control of diarrheal diseases.