Latrine use and Determinant Factors in Southwest Ethiopia

Background: Despite encouraging progress on sanitation, Ethiopia didn't meet the MDG sanitation target. According to Ethiopian DHS survey in 2014, 82.5% of the urban and 97.5% of the rural population had no access to improved sanitation, and that 8.7% of urban and 37.5% of the rural population practiced open defecation. This study aims to assess latrine use and associated factors at households in Southwest Ethiopia. Method: This cross-sectional study employed a household survey and observation of latrine facilities in Ilu Aba Bor Zone in Southwest Ethiopia. The survey questionnaire and observation checklist were adapted from the Afan Oromo version of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and other scientific literature. A total of 823 households were randomly selected through systematic sampling in selected kebeles. Logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with latrine use. Results: Out of 823 households interviewed, 88.2% had latrines. Among these, about one third (32.8%) of the respondents did not use them at all, only 36% reported their consistent use, and 31.3% used them occasionally. Factors associated with household latrine use were presence of a child attending formal education in household (Adjusted OR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.15-4.59), heard information about latrine (Adjusted OR=3.34, 95% CI: 1.59-7.02), presence of a hand washing facility Adjusted OR=4.08, 95% CI: 1.62-10.27), yearly household income (Adjusted OR=9.90, 95% CI: 2.66-36.82) and age of latrine (Adjusted OR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.54-5.26). Conclusion: In this study, despite evidence of high latrine coverage in the study area compared to other recent surveys and studies in similar areas, most latrines needed repair and maintenance, and were not used properly by the households. Therefore, continued hygiene, health and sanitation education, and encouragement to households to construct and consistently use latrines is crucial.