Understanding the Challenges of Improving Sanitation and Hygiene Outcomes in a Community Based Intervention: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Tanzania
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
Good sanitation and clean water are basic human rights yet they remain elusive to many
rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).We carried out a cross sectional study to examine
the impact of a four-year intervention aimed at improving access to water and sanitation and
reducing waterborne disease, especially diarrhea in children under five years old. The study
was carried out in April and May 2015 in Busangi, Chela and Ntobo wards of Kahama District
of Tanzania. The interventions included education campaigns and improved water supply, and
sanitation. The percentage of households (HHs) with access to water within 30 min increased from
19.2 to 48.9 and 17.6 to 27.3 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The percentage of HHs with
hand washing facilities at the latrine increased from 0% to 13.2%. However, the incidence of diarrhea
among children under five years increased over the intervention period, RR 2.91 95% CI 2.71–3.11,
p < 0.0001. Availability of water alone may not influence the incidence of waterborne diseases. Factors
such as water storage and usage, safe excreta disposal and other hygiene practices are critical for
interventions negating the spread of water borne diseases. A model that articulates the extent to
which these factors are helpful for such interventions should be explored.
Description
Keywords
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Diarrhea, Rural communities
Citation
Kamara, J. K., Galukande, M., Maeda, F., Luboga, S., & Renzaho, A. (2017). Understanding the challenges of improving sanitation and hygiene outcomes in a community based intervention: A cross-sectional study in rural Tanzania. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), 602. doi:10.3390/ijerph14060602