Assessment of Drinking Water Accessibility, Handling and Treatment Practice

Assessment of Drinking Water Accessibility, Handling and Treatment Practice in Assosa Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, North West Ethiopia.

Cheneke Atomsa Merga¹,  Fekadu Tadesse², Desta Baye², Ali Seleman²

¹Assosa Agricultural TVET College, Generalist Animal Feed Supplier, Assosa University; ²Assosa University

Background: Safe drinking water is the basic necessities for human beings. However, billions of people in the world have not access to it today. About 28 in 100 people lack access to sufficient and quality drinking water globally. According to Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016, 97% of urban households in Ethiopia have access to an improved source of drinking water, as compared with 57% of rural households.

Objectives: The major objective of this study was to assess the accessibility, handling and treatment practices in households of Assosa Woreda, from October 25-December 25/2020.

Methodology: Community based cross sectional study was carried out in selected households in selected kebeles of Assosa woreda using pre-designed questionnaires and observational check list as data collection tool. The source of population was all rural households in Assosa Woreda and study population was households who were living in selected kebeles. Sampling unit was households and study units were head of the household. Multistage and systemic random probability sampling technique was used in this study as sampling technique and sample size was determined by single proportion formula to be 378 households representing total of 3,265 households. Data was analyzed by SPSS IBM-21sotware and descriptive frequency and cross tabulation. The results were presented by texts, tables and graphs.

Result and discussion: The result showed that, majority, 82.8% households getting access to improved water source from hand pump which is treated while 18.2% still using unimproved drinking water source that is unprotected and untreated springs.  100% of them use Jerry-can to collect water and store water. Majority (80.2%) of the households were washing /rinsing the collection container before refilling. Most of the households (100%) reported that they cover the collection container during transport.  From the total households only 13.2% practiced treating water at their home that is mainly by boiling (5.6%). The findings slightly higher than other findings done before five years, but, agree with Millennium Development Goal.

Conclusion and recommendation: The findings of the study indicated that there were households using unimproved drinking water and unable to treat at home. To improve such problems; the community and government intervention are needed for maintaining drinking water sources those  not functioning, and increasing awareness of people on water treatment.

Keywords: Water handling practice, Household, Assosa woreda.

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How to cite this article:
Cheneke Atomsa Merga,Fekadu Tadesse, Desta Baye, Ali Seleman .Assessment of Drinking Water Accessibility, Handling and Treatment Practice in Assosa Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, North West Ethiopia.International Research Journal of Public Health, 2022; 6:66. DOI: 10.28933/irjph-2022-01-2205

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