Water supply, sanitation and hygiene interventions and childhood diarrhea in Kersa and Omo Nada districts of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects children in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Most of the diseases can be prevented through safe drinking water supply and provision of basic sanitation and hygiene. However, there is a paucity of information on childhood diarrhea related to interventions in kebeles (smallest administrative structure) where community-led total sanitation (CLTS) implemented and not implemented (non-CLTS). Thus, the aim of this study was to assess and compare the association of water supply, sanitation and hygiene interventions, and childhood diarrhea in CLTS implemented and non-implemented kebeles. METHOD: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Kersa and Omo Nada districts of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia from July 22 to August 9, 2018. Systematically selected 756 households with under-5 children were included in the study. Data were collected through interview using structured questionnaires. Water samples were collected in nonreactive borosilicate glass bottles. The binary logistic regression model was used; variables with a p value < 0.05 were considered as significantly associated with childhood diarrhea. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood diarrhea in the past 2 weeks was 17.7% (95% CI: 13.9–21.5) in CLTS kebeles and 22.0% (95% CI: 17.8–26.2) in non-CLTS kebeles. The occurrence of childhood diarrhea, increased among children whose families did not treat drinking water at home compared to those who treated in both CLTS (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.02–05.98) and non-CLTS (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI: 0.82–4.78) kebeles. About 96% of households in CLTS and 91% of households in non-CLTS kebeles had pit latrine with and without superstructure. Children from families that used water and soap to wash their hands were 76% less likely to have diarrhea in CLTS kebeles (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.31–1.88) and 54% less likely to have diarrhea in non-CLTS kebeles (AOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.17–1.72) when compared to children from families who used only water. The odds of having diarrhea was 1.63 times higher among children whose families live in CLTS non-implemented kebeles compared to those children whose families live in CLTS implemented kebeles (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 0.98–2.68). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of childhood diarrhea between CLTS and non-CLTS kebeles.