Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Practices and Associated Factors Among Primary School Students

Water sanitation and hygiene practice are important aspect of Environmental and Public Health in disease prevention and control, particularly water and sanitation related diseases. Water serves as an important medium through which many illnesses are spread in the human population. To investigate water sanitation and hygiene practices in selected primary schools of Bule Hora Town. Observational checklists and questionnaires were used in an across-sectional study that used quantitative data collection techniques. Source population was four primary schools students in Bule Hora Town. The sample size of primary schools students and teachers were calculated to be 150. Students' knowledge, attitudes, and hygiene practices concerning WASH were evaluated using a systematic and pre-tested questionnaire, and the state of WASH was determined using an observational check list. SPSS was used to examine the data. There was a frequency table. Odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval was calculated by using SPSS software. Out of four primary schools, two (50%) primary schools were classified as having good WASH status. The SPSS of all independent variables demonstrated that the kind of the pupils at the school in (COR=1.882, 95%CI= (1.270-2.587)), understanding the significance of using the restroom (COR= 2.018, 95%CI= (1.314-3.711)), attitude toward open defecation encourages the spread of pathogens (COR=1.527, 95%CI= (1.342-2.771)). The results of this study demonstrated that the types of schools, knowledge, and attitudes were related to WASH practices. The majority of elementary schools had inadequate WASH conditions, and the majority of the pupils practiced poor WASH habits.