Factors Influencing Sanitation Practices Among Women’s in Finote Selam Town, Northwestern Ethiopia, 2024

Abstract

Access to adequate sanitation remains a major public health challenge, particularly in areas with limited resources. This study examined the factors influencing sanitation practices among women, focusing on socioeconomic, knowledge, and environmental determinants. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among women. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, household wealth, sanitation knowledge, water availability, and conflict exposure were collected and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed to identify significant predictors of poor sanitation practices. The findings revealed that wealth status, knowledge, water availability, and exposure to conflict were significant determinants of sanitation behavior. Women from poor households had 3.5 times higher odds of practicing poor sanitation compared to those from rich households (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 2.10–5.60; P < .001). Similarly, women with poor knowledge of sanitation were 3 times more likely to engage in inadequate sanitation practices than those with good knowledge (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.60–5.40; P < .001). Limited access to water also strongly increased the likelihood of poor sanitation (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.90–5.40; P < .001), and women living in conflict-affected areas had double the odds of poor sanitation practices compared to those in stable settings (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.10–3.60; P = .02). Age and occupational status were not significant predictors. These results highlight that poverty, inadequate knowledge, limited water availability, and conflict exposure substantially compromise sanitation behaviors. Interventions should therefore combine targeted health education, improved water and sanitation infrastructure, and context-specific strategies for populations in conflict-affected or underserved areas. Strengthening these measures can enhance hygiene practices and reduce the burden of sanitation-related diseases.