Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Exploring geographic variation and inequalities in access to improved drinking-water supply and sanitation will help track progress towards to meet sustainable development goals of water and sanitation by identifying risk populations for water borne diseases. These study aims are to explore geographical variation and inequality in access to improved drinking water and sanitation in Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 16, 650 households from 645 enumeration areas of the recent Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 data were included in the analysis. Satscan spatial analysis was done to explore the geographical variation of improved water and sanitation. Absolute and relative inequalities were used to quantify subnational regional inequality in access to improved drinking water and sanitation. Access to improved drinking water and sanitation in Ethiopia was 40.8% (95%CI39.4-42.2) and 9.8% (95%CI 9.1-10.6), respectively, with large variations between and within regions. Access to improved drinking water ranged from 26.2% in the Somali region to 94.6% in Addis Ababa and access to improved sanitation ranged from 1.7% in Amhara Region to 24% in Dire Dawa. Most likely significant cluster in lack of access to improved water and sanitation was identified in northwestern parts (Amhara region) and southern parts (South Nation and Nationalities and People Region) of Ethiopia. There are geographical variation and inequalities in access to improved drinking water and sanitation in Ethiopia. The identified underserved population are the area of focus for implementers to improve inequalities that can help progress to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.