Mulogo Edgar Mugema, Matte Micheal, Wesuta Andrew, Bagenda Fred, Apecu Richard, Ntaro Moses
Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
J Environ Public Health. 2018 Aug 27;2018:5403795. doi: 10.1155/2018/5403795. eCollection 2018.
There is a paucity of information on the state of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at health care facilities in Uganda. A survey on WASH service availability was conducted at 50 health care facilities across 4 districts of rural southwestern Uganda between September and November 2015. The main water points at the majority (94%) of the health care facilities were improved sources, while improved toilets were available at 96% of the health care facilities visited. Hospitals had the poorest toilet to patient ratio (1 : 63). Only 38% of the health care facilities had hand washing facilities at the toilets. The lack of hand washing facilities was most prominent at the level IV health centre toilets (71%). Hand washing facilities were available at other points within most (76%) of the health care facilities. However, both water and soap were present at only 24% of these health care facilities. The poor toilet to patient/caregiver ratios particularly in the high volume health care facilities calls for the provision of cheaper options for improved sanitation in these settings. Priority should also be given to the sustainable provision of hygiene amenities such as soap for hand washing particularly the high patient volume health care facilities, in this case the level IV health centres and hospitals.
关于乌干达医疗保健设施中的水、环境卫生和个人卫生（WASH）状况，现有信息匮乏。2015年9月至11月期间，在乌干达西南部农村地区的4个区的50家医疗保健设施开展了一项关于WASH服务可及性的调查。大多数（94%）医疗保健设施的主要水源为改善水源，而在所走访的96%的医疗保健设施中设有改善型厕所。医院的厕所与患者比例最低（1∶63）。只有38%的医疗保健设施在厕所设有洗手设施。洗手设施缺失在四级医疗中心的厕所最为突出（71%）。在大多数（76%）医疗保健设施的其他地点设有洗手设施。然而，这些医疗保健设施中只有24%同时配备了水和肥皂。特别是在就诊量大的医疗保健设施中，厕所与患者/护理人员比例较低，这就需要在这些场所提供更廉价的改善卫生设施的方案。还应优先考虑可持续地提供诸如用于洗手的肥皂等卫生便利设施，尤其是就诊量大的医疗保健设施，在本案例中即四级医疗中心和医院。
