Abstract:
Background: Although one of the most essential services that are needed for living
is sanitation, 40% of the world’s population lack improved sanitation and 80% of
these people live in rural areas. Construction of latrines in the absence of its
satisfactory utilization will not allow wider benefits to be obtained, making behavioral
change a critical component required to improve sanitation.
Objective: To compare the extent of latrine utilization and identify factors affecting
latrine utilization among urban and rural households of Dessie Town district.
Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted between urban and
rural households of Dessie Town district from March1 - 30, 2012. Participants were
selected using multi stage sampling. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS
version 16. Odds ratio with 95% CI and P-value were calculated to ascertain the
association between dependent and independent variables.
Result: Latrine utilization was found to be satisfactory for 187 (47.3%) of the urban
and 198 (49.3%) of the rural study groups. Education of respondent was statistically
associated with extent of latrine utilization among the urban, but not among the rural
study groups. Satisfactory latrine utilization increases for maintained latrines [(AOR
(95%CI) = 3.56(2.47, 5.13)]. Respondents who constructed latrine inside premises
are more likely to have satisfactory latrine utilization than those constructed outside
premises [OR (95%CI) = 2.55(1.80, 3.60)]. Reasons for using latrine always were
associated with extent of latrine utilization only among urban study groups [OR
(95%CI) = 3.82(2.07, 7.02)].
Conclusion and Recommendation: There is no statistically significant difference in
latrine utilization between urban and rural households in the district. Slab sealed
latrine increases the likely hood of satisfactory latrine utilization. Imposition of
households to construct latrines need not be encouraged. Programs better focus
latrine construction not to be far apart from the house, and also to be located inside
premises. In addition to construction of latrine, maintenance of existing latrines
needs to be focused and slabs of latrines need to be plastered with mud or cement
