Latrine utilization and associated factors in the Rural community of jardega jarte district, oromia Regional state, north-west ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Ensuring adequate sanitation is one of Millennium Development Goals that Ethiopia shares with other countries. Poor sanitary facilities and hygiene practices are highly associated with huge burden of communicable diseases. The most affected are the populations in the rural and peri-urban communities of developing countries. Studies have shown that proper latrine utilization coverage has to reach 90% of population to have an impact on health: however, latrine utilization and associated factors of the rural community of the district is not well assessed. Objective: To assess the level latrine utilization and associated factors of the rural community of Jardega Jarte District, Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, North west Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross sectional study using quantitative data collection method by using structured questionnaire was conducted. A total of 403 households were surveyed for their latrine utilization and associated factors. Simple Random Sampling using lottery method was used to select kebeles. The sample was then allocated to the selected six kebeles using population proportional to size (PPS) based on the number of households with latrine facility in the selected kebeles. The study households were selected by simple random sampling technique using Computer generated method from the sampling frame. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed by SPSS version 16. Bivariate analysis was conducted to see whether there was association between dependent and independent variable. Those variables with p < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in to multivariate analysis for identifying the independent factors that influence latrine utilization. In the final model p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: From the total of 403 households surveyed 156(38.7%) had satisfactory latrine utilization. Ninety five (23.6%) of them have hand washing facility. Educational status of the head of households who can Read & Write, Annual income of households >13000 Ethiopian birr, presence of hand washing facility near the latrine and frequent supportive supervision households by Health Extension Workers had significant association with latrine utilization with [AOR=2.87195% CI:(1.728,4.771)], [AOR=2.871, 95%CI (1.728, 4.771)], [AOR =11.400 95% CI (6.489, 20.029)] & [AOR= 1.804, 95 %CI (1.085, 2.999)] respectively. Conclusion and recommendation: Latrine utilization was low even though there was improved latrine coverage. Thus, we recommend that the level of latrine utilization can be improved by improving predictors of latrine utilization like increasing the awareness level of the rural community on proper latrine utilization, making hand washing facility available near the latrine and frequent supportive supervision of households by Health Extension Workers