Prevalence and Associated Factors of Access to Improve Sanitation Facilities Among Households in Ethiopia: Evidence From the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health survey

The absence of improved sanitation facilities presents a major global health and environmental issue, particularly affecting impoverished communities. Globally, around 2.4 billion people face inadequate sanitation, a crisis significantly reflected in Ethiopia, where over 48 million individuals lack access to improved sanitation facilities. This study tries to identify the determinant of access to improved sanitation facilities among households in Ethiopia. The study utilizes cross-sectional data from the 2016 EDHS, and a total of 9,036 households were included. Multilevel binary logistic regression model was utilized to identify significant determinant factors of access to improved sanitation. Statistical significance was confirmed at p < .05, and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of association. Approximately 33% of households had access to improved sanitation facilities, with notable variations observed across enumeration areas. This study showed significant association between access to improved sanitation facilities and factors like place of residence, education status, and wealth status. Likewise, modern housing status (AOR: 2.087), access to water within 30 min (AOR: 1.291), older age (56 and above; AOR: 1.336) and administrative region were significantly associated with access to improved sanitation facilities. The prevalence of access to improved sanitation facilities is still low in Ethiopia; priority should be given to households who are rural residents, less-educated, and low-income groups. The study stresses the need for government and NGOs to adopt a multifaceted approach, including infrastructure development, income generation, hygiene education, and community engagement to enhance sanitation.