Sisay Shegaw Fentaye, Gari Sirak Robele, Ambelu Argaw
Water and Health Program, Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Environ Health Insights. 2024 Aug 4;18:11786302241267187. doi: 10.1177/11786302241267187. eCollection 2024.
Sanitation safety practices and risks associated with fecal sludge management are crucial for public health and the environment. This study assessed sanitation safety practices and risks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at different stages of fecal sludge management. The research aimed to understand the current state of sanitation facilities, practices, and associated risks and identify areas for improvement.
A mixed methods/approach was employed, utilizing household surveys, risk assessments, and sanitary inspections. A total of 384 study subjects were interviewed using face-to-face interviews and observations.
The findings revealed that the majority of households (97.7%) had consistent access to toilets, with flush/pour flush toilets being the most common type (47.4%). Factors such as odors in toilets or septic tanks, open defecation by children, and the use of untreated wastewater for food production were significantly associated with sociodemographic factors. Risk assessments indicated that 67% of households fell into the low-risk category, while 33% were classified as intermediate risk. The study identified non-compliance issues during sanitary inspections at transfer stations (45%), a wastewater treatment and disposal facility (61.5%), and in the management of wastewater and sludge in the sewer line (64%). These findings call for urgent actions to address improper feces disposal, inadequate maintenance of sanitation facilities, and unsafe practices in fecal sludge management.
This study identified concerning issues in fecal sludge management, including improper feces disposal, inadequate facility maintenance, and non-compliance with safety standards during emptying, transport, treatment, and disposal. Urgent action is needed to address these risks. Promoting proper disposal techniques, improving facility maintenance, education programs, strengthening regulations, providing training and protective equipment, and investing in enhanced sanitation facilities and wastewater treatment methods are essential for improving sanitation safety practices.
粪便污泥管理相关的卫生安全实践和风险对公众健康和环境至关重要。本研究评估了埃塞俄比亚亚的斯亚贝巴在粪便污泥管理不同阶段的卫生安全实践和风险。该研究旨在了解卫生设施、实践及相关风险的现状，并确定改进领域。
采用混合方法，包括家庭调查、风险评估和卫生检查。通过面对面访谈和观察，共对384名研究对象进行了访谈。
研究结果显示，大多数家庭（97.7%）能够持续使用厕所，其中冲水/倾倒式厕所最为常见（47.4%）。厕所或化粪池异味、儿童露天排便以及使用未经处理的废水进行食品生产等因素与社会人口统计学因素显著相关。风险评估表明，67%的家庭属于低风险类别，而33%被归类为中等风险。该研究发现转运站（45%）、废水处理与处置设施（61.5%）以及下水道系统中废水和污泥管理方面在卫生检查期间存在违规问题（64%）。这些发现呼吁采取紧急行动，以解决粪便处理不当、卫生设施维护不足以及粪便污泥管理中的不安全做法。
本研究确定了粪便污泥管理中存在的相关问题，包括粪便处理不当、设施维护不足以及在清空、运输、处理和处置过程中不符合安全标准。需要采取紧急行动来应对这些风险。推广适当的处理技术、改善设施维护、开展教育项目、加强监管、提供培训和防护设备以及投资改善卫生设施和废水处理方法对于改善卫生安全实践至关重要。
