Asgedom Akeza Awealom, Redae Gebru Hailu, Gebretnsae Hailay, Tequare Mengistu Hagazi, Hidru Hagos Degefa, Gebrekidan Gebregziabher Berihu, Berhe Abadi Kidanemariam, Ebrahim Mohamedawel Mohamedniguss, Cherinet Mulugeta, Gebretsadik Gebremedhin Gebreegziabher, Woldearegay Haftom Gebrehiwot, Tesfau Yemane Berhane, Bereket Tedros, Berhe Muzey Gebremichael, Weldu Meresa Gebremedhin, Meles Gebrekiros Gebremichael, Debesay Micheale Hagos, Esayas Rieye, Tsadik Mache
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2025 Jan;263:114460. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114460. Epub 2024 Sep 12.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) associated diseases remain a global public health issue and linked with Sustainable Development Goal 6. In November 2020, a war broke out in Tigray, Ethiopia, resulting in a negative health consequence. The post war status of WASH and its associated diseases are not documented. The aim of this study was to assess the status of drinking water, sanitation and hygiene practices and the prevalence of WASH-associated diseases in Tigray, Ethiopia following the war. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 randomly selected accessible districts of Tigray, Ethiopia. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data from households in the study. Data was collected from 2338 households. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The average age of respondents was 28.7 years (SD = 6.2). The majority of respondents 2030 (86.8%) were married and 1698 (72.6%) were rural residents. Nearly one third of the respondents were uneducated and around 40% have either radio or TV as means of communication. More than half (55.2%) of the respondents had a family size of over 5. A quarter (25%, 95% CI: 23.3, 26.8) of study participants had access to a basic water supply. Less than a tenth (7.7%, 95% CI: 6.6, 8.8) of households had access to basic sanitation. Basic hand washing was available in 2% of households. Malaria, diarrhoea, skin infection and eye infection were the common reported disease in the community. Marital status, family size, place of residence and liquid waste management were the most important predictors of reported diseases. Access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services was low, and the prevalence of malaria, diarrhoea and skin infections was higher. There were differences in WASH services and reported diseases according to zone and place of residence (urban-rural). Post war, improved access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services is recommended to prevent WASH-associated diseases in Tigray, Ethiopia. Furthermore, the prevention oriented policy of the country needs better implementation to reduce preventable diseases and ensure better health status in the community.
水、环境卫生与个人卫生（WASH）相关疾病仍然是一个全球公共卫生问题，与可持续发展目标6相关联。2020年11月，埃塞俄比亚提格雷爆发了一场战争，导致了负面的健康后果。战争后WASH及其相关疾病的状况尚无记录。本研究的目的是评估埃塞俄比亚提格雷战争后饮用水、环境卫生和个人卫生习惯的状况以及WASH相关疾病的患病率。在埃塞俄比亚提格雷随机选择的24个可进入的地区进行了一项基于社区的横断面研究。使用标准化问卷从研究中的家庭收集数据。从2338户家庭收集了数据。使用描述性统计和二元逻辑回归分析数据。受访者的平均年龄为28.7岁（标准差=6.2）。大多数受访者2030人（86.8%）已婚，1698人（72.6%）是农村居民。近三分之一的受访者未受过教育，约40%的人以收音机或电视作为通讯工具。超过一半（55.2%）的受访者家庭人口超过5人。四分之一（25%，95%置信区间：23.3，26.8）的研究参与者能够获得基本供水。不到十分之一（7.7%，95%置信区间：6.6，8.8）的家庭能够获得基本卫生设施。2%的家庭有基本的洗手设施。疟疾、腹泻、皮肤感染和眼部感染是该社区报告的常见疾病。婚姻状况、家庭规模、居住地点和液体废物管理是报告疾病的最重要预测因素。基本水、环境卫生和个人卫生服务的可及性较低，疟疾、腹泻和皮肤感染的患病率较高。根据地区和居住地点（城乡），WASH服务和报告的疾病存在差异。战后，建议在埃塞俄比亚提格雷改善基本水、环境卫生和个人卫生服务的可及性，以预防WASH相关疾病。此外，该国以预防为导向的政策需要更好地实施，以减少可预防疾病并确保社区有更好的健康状况。
