Abstract:
Background: Ethiopia has been encountering a higher predominance of communicable illnesses, which come about in high morbidity, mortality, and hospital admission rates. One of the higher contributing factors for this can be the lower level of latrine utilization. Proper utilization of the latrine a vital to prevent diarrhea diseases and others fico oral transmitted diseases.
Objective: - To assess latrine utilization and associated factors among rural households in Dega Damot Woreda west Gojjam zone, Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 352 households in Dega Dmot Worda from March 2021to April 2021. The multistage sampling method was used to select sample households. Before the actual data collection, a pretest was conducted on 5% of the sample size at non selected transformed woreda (Bahir Dar Zuria) to evaluate the clarity of questions and the tool, reaction of the respondent to the questions, and estimate time needed.
Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklists. Data were entered using Epi info version 7, to export to a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25. Data were cleaned by visualizing and calculating frequencies. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was a p-value of 0.25 and multivariable logistic regression analysis was a p-value used for binary logistic <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance respectively.
Results: Overall latrine utilization in this study was (48.9%) at 95% CI.Good knowledge of the head of household 2.46(AOR=2.46, 95% CI (1.7,4.1), educational status of mothers 1.80( AOR=1.80,95% CI (1.10,2.9), frequency of cleaning 2.51(AOR=2.51, 95% CI (1.35,4.65) and squat hole cover 0.26( AOR=0.26,95% CI(0.11,0.59) were predictors of latrine utilization. Conclusion: In this study latrine utilization status among study participants was very low. Having Good Knowledge head of the household about latrine utilization, having educated women in the household, frequency of cleaning latrine, and squat aperture cover were factors associated with latrine utilization. Hence, health extension workers and health professionals should provide health education on the importance of latrine utilization.
Keywords: Latrine utilization, Dega Damot, transformed Worda, Ethiopia