PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROJECT (THE CASE OF BECHO WOREDA IN OROMIA REGION)

Abstract

Becho is one of the woreda in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia far-away about 80 km south west from Addis Ababa and it is part of the Debub Mirab Shewa Zone. It has had a problems relating to water supply, sanitation and hygiene. These problems when combined together could have public health implications for villagers who may be exposed to faecal pathogens. The purpose of this study was to investigate the community sanitation and hygiene practices and in implementation challenges of sanitation and hygiene projects and provide valuable remedial solutions for the improvement of the health of the community. By identified the current state of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of households regarding sanitation and hygiene as a means of determining necessary interventions for addressing environmental and public health improvements. Another aim was to determine the challenges faced in improving the state of sanitation and hygiene. The impacts which poor sanitation and hygiene could have on environmental and public health were also addressed. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study. This qualitative component included observations during 21 kebele’s of selected community household’s visits and two focus group discussions. The quantitative research data was gathered through conducting a questionnaire survey of 388 systematically selected households at a response rate of 100% and 11 employees from woreda health office and Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church Development Commission water, sanitation and hygiene program. The results of the field observations and focus group discussion revealed that the practices of sanitation and hygiene in the village were not good in terms of usage of latrine; frequent cleaning of latrine, covering the hole, building house around and hand washing after use and before eat. The questionnaire results of the research revealed that about 47.7% had no household pit latrine and 35.3 % of households did not have a latrine is protected from the inlets of animals, 93% of households did not have separate blocks or rooms of latrine for male and female , 46.9% families had not hand washing practices after visiting toilet and 67.2% of house hold did not have use water treatment and safe water storage .Households were generally inadequate knowledgeable about the causes of faecal-oral disease. They also have poor sanitation practiced and hygiene management. Knowledge about the health effects associated with the use of sanitation facilities and hygiene management. Various recommendations for decrease sanitation and hygiene related problems were presented here. These include; the health extension workers and health educators should provide several trainings and make household visits to monitor the practice of covering the latrine hole. They should use the model farmers to provide trainings and share their experience to the other households.