Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Towards Water Supply, Sanitation And Hygiene (Wash) Among Residents In Arsi Nagele Town, South Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background The national water coverage has been in increasing trend. However, unsafe water supply and poor sanitation practice was the major health concern which is causing diseases with considerable morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia.Objective To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of Arsi Nagele town inhabitants on water supply, sanitation and hygiene at household level.Method Community-based cross sectional study design was used at household level in Arsi Nagele town in April, 2019. Data was collected with structured questionnaires through face to face interview. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software.Result Four out of ten (43.8%) respondents know private taps are safe for drinking and domestic use while 116(40.4%) shared taps are safe. Moreover, 31(10.5%) know hand pump are safe and 16(5..3%) know unprotected well are safe for any domestic purpose. The majority of the respondents 260(90.5%) had positive attitude whereas 21 (7.1%) of the respondents negative and 8(2.5%) neutral attitude to the issue that in proper disposal of solid and liquid waste may contribute to the transmission of disease. While 241 (83.9%) of the respondent had positive attitude while 32(10.8%) and 16(5.2%) of the respondents had negative and neutral attitude to the view that human waste disposal is not a problem in that area. Conclusion The majority of respondent 250(87.1%) had good practice in case of cover the water storage container during the time of visit while 39(12.9%) of the respondent had bad practice. This calls urgent action to creat awareness on health education and hygiene household be promoted to influence the resident’s attitude that target personal, household and community hygiene and sanitation.