Latrine access and factors associated with it among people with physical disability in Kombolcha Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A mixed cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Although all people have the right to access basic sanitation services, people with disabilities often face additional barriers to accessing the service compared to people without disabilities. Over the last few years, with the focus of the sustainable development goals on universal access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, awareness of the need for programs to reach and benefit everyone has been growing. But the current level of access to latrines is not known. OBJECTIVE: To determine latrine access and identify factors associated with it among people with physically disability in Kombolcha town, 2020. METHODS: A community-based mixed cross-sectional study was conducted among physically disabled people in Kombolcha town in April 2020. Quantitative data was collected from 374 randomly selected study participants using structured interviewer-administered questioners. The key informant and in-depth interviews were conducted with purposely selected individuals.The bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data RESULTS: Latrine access among people with a physical disability was found to be (22%), 95% CI (17.7–26.5). membershipto disability association (AOR = 2.162, 95% CI (1.231–3.799)),wealth status of study participants. (AOR = 4.169, 95% CI (1.96–8.864)) stigma and discrimination to get latrine in the last 12 months(AOR = 0.212, 95% CI (0.116–0.388)) and study participant’s knowledge to construct accessible latrine (AOR = 4.389, 95% CI (2.446–7.87)) werepredictor variables of latrine accessibility. Shared/publiclatrine, stigma and discrimination, poor wealth status,lack of own house, and lack of information provided regarding latrine accessibility supplementary barriersfor inaccessible latrinefrom In-depth and key informant interviews. CONCLUSION: Latrine access among people with a physical disability was found to be very low. Poor knowledge of accessible latrine construction, poor wealth status, stigma and discrimination, and not beinga member of a disability association increased the risk of latrine inaccessibility.