Yirdaw Getasew, Dessie Awrajaw, Azanaw Jember, Birhan Tsegaye Adane
Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Environ Health Insights. 2023 Oct 14;17:11786302231203067. doi: 10.1177/11786302231203067. eCollection 2023.
Sanitation facilities are critical for interrupting the transmission of feco-oral disease through proper use, not simply their physical presence. Latrine utilization is the actual behavior in a practice of regularly using existing latrines for the safe disposal of excreta. In slum regions of developing nations, such as Ethiopia, poor latrine use is a prevalent concern. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the state of latrine utilization and its determinant factors in the urban slums of Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional survey was done in slum regions of Gondar City from March 1 to April 30, 2021, with a total of 422 systematically chosen households. A structured pre-tested questionnaire and on-the-spot observational checklists were used to collect the data from each household.
Latrine utilization was observed among 31.5% of households. Latrine utilization was also significantly associated with the age of the latrine (age ⩽10 years) (AOR: 2.31; 95% CI (1.15, 4.63)), cleanliness of the latrine (AOR: 3.70; 95% CI (1.16, 11.78)), pit being lined (AOR: 6.33; 95% CI (2.09, 19.15)), depth of latrine (⩽3 m) (AOR: 0.43; 95% CI (0.24, 0.77)), and cleaning materials for handwashing (AOR: 0.33; 95% CI (0.15, 0.75)).
Based on the present finding, most households didn't have proper latrine utilization practices. The age of the latrine, cleanliness of the latrine, pit being lined, depth of the pit, and cleaning materials for handwashing were associated factors of latrine utilization. As a result, sanitation interventions such as health education about improving the cleanliness and sanitary condition of existing latrine facilities and constructing lined and deep new latrines as the goal's standard should be implemented.
卫生设施对于通过正确使用来阻断粪口传播疾病至关重要，而不仅仅取决于其实际存在。厕所利用率是指定期使用现有厕所安全处理排泄物的实际行为。在埃塞俄比亚等发展中国家的贫民窟地区，厕所使用情况不佳是一个普遍问题。因此，本研究旨在调查埃塞俄比亚西北部贡德尔市城市贫民窟的厕所使用状况及其决定因素。
2021年3月1日至4月30日在贡德尔市的贫民窟地区进行了一项横断面调查，共系统选取了422户家庭。使用经过预测试的结构化问卷和现场观察清单从每户家庭收集数据。
观察到31.5%的家庭使用厕所。厕所利用率还与厕所使用年限（年限≤10年）（调整后比值比：2.31；95%置信区间(1.15, 4.63)）、厕所清洁度（调整后比值比：3.70；95%置信区间(1.16, 11.78)）、粪池有衬砌（调整后比值比：6.33；95%置信区间(2.09, 19.15)）、厕所深度（≤3米）（调整后比值比：0.43；95%置信区间(0.24, 0.77)）以及洗手清洁用品（调整后比值比：0.33；95%置信区间(0.15, 0.75)）显著相关。
基于目前的研究结果，大多数家庭没有正确的厕所使用习惯。厕所使用年限、厕所清洁度、粪池有衬砌、粪池深度以及洗手清洁用品是厕所利用率的相关因素。因此，应实施卫生干预措施，如开展关于改善现有厕所设施清洁度和卫生状况的健康教育，并按照目标标准建造有衬砌且深度合适的新厕所。
