Potential motivators behind household toilet adoption: results from a study in Amhara, Ethiopia

A study conducted in Amhara, Ethiopia among open defecators and toilet owners using female informants with children under 5 years of age to understand psychosocial factors that influence toilet uptake revealed that feeling modern, respected by members of community and visitors, and allowing women privacy any time of the day distinguishes facility owners from open defecators. In addition, toilet owners perceive that sanitation facilities contribute to keeping the compound clean and facilitate defecation for the elderly. Yet, feeling of shame for contaminating the environment, convenience, security and disease prevention were found to be the four common motivating factors for building toilets. Major reasons hindering latrines uptake were: land tenancy constraints or lack of space, or lack of skills in house to build facilities meaning the need to rely on outside help to construct latrines. Both contextual factors and psychosocial factors interact to influence latrine ownership. Sanitation promotion needs to keep these factors into account to help meet MDGs

Prevalence of Trachoma after Implementation of Trachoma Elimination Interventions in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: Results of Impact Surveys in 131 Evaluation Units Covering 139 Districts

To determine the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF), trachomatous trichiasis (TT), water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access in 131 evaluation units (EUs) after implementation of trachoma elimination interventions in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in each EU using the World Health Organization-recommended two-stage cluster-sampling methodology. Twenty-six clusters, each with a mean of 30 households were enumerated in each EU. All residents aged ≥1 year in selected households were examined for TF and TT. Information on WASH access in surveyed households was also collected through questioning the household head and direct observation. A total of 419,858 individuals were enumerated in 131 EUs, of whom 396,134 (94%) were examined, 54% being female. Age-adjusted EU-level prevalence of TF in children aged 1–9 years ranged from 0.15% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0–0.4) to 37.5% (95% CI: 31.1–43.7). The TF prevalence was Oromia is on the path towards elimination of trachoma as a public health problem.</p

Multivariable model showing the household-level and community-level associations between sanitation, water and trachomatous inflammation—Follicular (TF) among children aged 1–9 years.

<p>Multivariable model showing the household-level and community-level associations between sanitation, water and trachomatous inflammation—Follicular (TF) among children aged 1–9 years.</p

Results from multivariable interaction model showing the association between community-level sanitation coverage and water coverage on trachomatous inflammation—Follicular prevalence, stratified by household access to sanitation or water among children aged 1–9 years.

<p>Results from multivariable interaction model showing the association between community-level sanitation coverage and water coverage on trachomatous inflammation—Follicular prevalence, stratified by household access to sanitation or water among children aged 1–9 years.</p

Results from multivariable model showing the association between community-level sanitation and water coverage on trachomatous inflammation—Follicular prevalence among children aged 1–9 years.

<p>Results from multivariable model showing the association between community-level sanitation and water coverage on trachomatous inflammation—Follicular prevalence among children aged 1–9 years.</p

Study flow diagram.

<p>Study flow diagram.</p

Association between trachomatous inflammation—Follicular in children aged 1–9 years and both household and community associations combined together (i.e. the “total effect”).

<p>The reference group is participants without household washing water/sanitation living in the lowest coverage decile.</p