Household electronic waste management practices and its determinants in Southwest Ethiopia: Analytical cross-sectional study

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a rapidly expanding environmental and public health global concern. 53.6 million tons of e-waste were generated globally in 2019.The generation of e-waste is increasing globally due to technological advancement, urbanization, and increased demand for technological products. The prevalence of appropriate electronic waste management varies depending on the area, and Gambella, a city in southwest Ethiopia, is one of the problem-hosting cities. The study assessed proper household electronic waste management practice and its determinant factors among households in Gambella City, Southwest Ethiopia, 2024. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 605 randomly selected households in Southwest Ethiopia from June to July 2024. Data were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire administered by the Kobo Toolbox and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS) for analysis. Multi variable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify determinant factors of proper e-waste management. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, and statistical significance was determined at P < 0.05. The findings of this study revealed that 20.3% of households practiced proper electronic waste management. Female household leadership [AOR = 1.59:95%CI (1.04–2.43)], availability of storage sites for e-waste [AOR = 1.85:95% CI (1.21–2.83)], infrastructure constraints [AOR = 3.01:95% CI (1.83–4.97)], and access to information on e-waste [AOR = 2.37:95% CI (1.53–3.67)] were determinant factors of proper e-waste practices. The prevalence of proper electronic waste management was low in southwest Ethiopia. Sex, storage site availability for e-waste, infrastructure constraints, and information access to e-waste management were predictors of proper household e-waste management practices. Strengthening e-waste management infrastructure, increasing awareness, and integrating community-based interventions are recommended to decrease environmental and public health risks of improper e-waste management.