THE IMPACT OF WASH PROJECTS ON THE ALTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF REFUGEES: THE CASE OF SHIRE REFUGEE CAMP.

Abstract

Ethiopia currently hosts the second-largest refugee population from African country, next to Uganda, sheltering 720,914 who were forced to flee their homes as a result of political instability, military conscription, conflict, famine and other problems in their countries of origin. Approximately 3,000 cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) were reported in 2018 nationwide, widely held in Tigray region, followed by Afar due to inadequate access to safe water and sanitation combined with poor hygiene practices continue to increase disease outbreak risks, including AWD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices on hygiene and sanitation among refugees in Shire refugee camp. To achieve the objective, quantitative study using descriptive analysis was employed. The study has used questionnaires and Observation as tools to collect the primary data. A total of 372 head of randomly selected sample households were used in the study. The data was analyzed using STATA. Descriptive analysis using frequency, mean, median and percentage was used. This study showed that 6% do not know causes of diarrhea disease and important time to wash hands, and 5% of the respondents don’t know the prevention method of diarrhea but the remaining percentage have a good knowledge on the cause and prevention of diarrhea disease and important times to wash hands. Besides, the highest percentage of refugees had good attitude with hygiene and sanitation, and regarding to practice more than half had inadequate practice towards hygiene and sanitation which is found by examining different HH activities in Shire refugee camp. As conclusion, hygiene education have a significant impact in increasing the knowledge, attitude and practice of the refugee towards sanitation & Hygiene.