Household drinking water quality and its predictors in flood-prone settings of Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional community-based study
Tsegaye Adane Birhan,
Bikes Destaw Bitew,
Henok Dagne,
Dagnachew Eyachew Amare,
Jember Azanaw,
Zewudu Andualem,
Awrajaw Dessie,
Gebisa Guyasa,
Alem Getaneh,
Ayenew Addisu,
Mengesha Genet,
Garedew Tadege Engdaw,
Amensisa Hailu Tesfaye,
Tigist Kibret Asmare,
Tarekegn Fentie Yimer
Affiliations
Tsegaye Adane Birhan
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Corresponding author.
Bikes Destaw Bitew
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Henok Dagne
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Dagnachew Eyachew Amare
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Jember Azanaw
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Zewudu Andualem
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Awrajaw Dessie
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Gebisa Guyasa
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Alem Getaneh
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Ayenew Addisu
Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Mengesha Genet
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Garedew Tadege Engdaw
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Amensisa Hailu Tesfaye
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Tigist Kibret Asmare
Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Tarekegn Fentie Yimer
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Globally, the deterioration of drinking water quality is a major public health problem that contributes to the spread of disease and causes death. Therefore, it is important to have regular quality control monitoring. This study aimed to assess the level of physicochemical and bacteriological quality of household drinking water and its contributing factors in flood-prone settlements of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in flood-prone settings of Northwest Ethiopia from January 17 to March 30, 2021. Structured questionnaires were used to gather the sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral data. A total of 675 drinking water samples were collected from water storage containers of selected households. Logistic regression models were used for both univariate and multivariable studies. The survey included a total of 675 households. The mean values of pH (5.9 ± 1.03), turbidity (6.7 ± 2.21 NTU), and free residual chlorine (0.02 ± 0.01 mg/l) did not meet the WHO recommended limits for drinking water. The prevalence of fecal contamination of drinking water in the study area was 62.2% with [95% CI (53–60%)]. Family size [AOR = 2.205, 95% CI (1.375–3.536), absence of latrine [AOR = 3.449, 95% CI (1.349–8.823)], and lack of a separate container to draw water from its storage [AOR = 0.454, 95% CI (0.249–0.827)] were significant predictors for fecal contamination of household drinking water. In conclusion, the water quality in terms of pH, turbidity, residual chlorine, and bacteriological parameters was poor and not suitable for consumption. High prevalence of fecal contamination of water was found, and it was significantly associated with family size, the absence of a latrine, and the lack of a separate cap to take water from the storage. Therefore, continuous chlorination and monitoring its concentration, educating the community on how to use stored water, educating the advantage of having a latrine, and promoting point-of-use treatments such as filtration and boiling are needed.
