Abstract:
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are critical to ensuring health and
preventing disease in Tanzania where approximately one-third of childhood
deaths are related to poor hygiene. This study explored associations between
WASH practices and childhood illness. Data came from a cross-sectional
survey of 5000 female caregivers living in the Lake Zone region of Tanzania.
Measures included self-reported presence of fever, diarrhea, cough and various
WASH factors. Multiple logistic regressions were used. Thirty-seven percent
of children experienced fever, 26% diarrhea, and 11% cough in the previous
two weeks. Unimproved toilets were positively associated with fever
(OR 1.25, CI 1.03 - 1.53, p < 0.05) and animal enclosures were negatively associated
with diarrhea (OR 0.76, CI 0.61 - 0.96, p < 0.05). Unsafe disposal of a
child’s stool was associated with both fever (OR 0.77, CI 0.67 - 0.89, p < 0.05)
and diarrhea (OR 1.18, CI 1.0 - 1.38, p < 0.05). Eating soil was associated with
both fever (OR 2.02, CI 1.79 - 2.29, p < 0.05) and diarrhea (OR 2.23, CI 1.95 -
2.57, p < 0.05). Eating chicken feces was associated with both fever (OR 2.07,
CI 1.66 - 2.58, p < 0.05) and diarrhea (OR 2.38, CI 1.9 - 2.98, p < 0.05). Water
shortages were associated with fever (OR 1.21, CI 1.07 - 1.36, p < 0.05) and
cough (OR 1.48, CI 1.22 - 1.81, p < 0.05). Policy makers and program designers
should consider increasing access to water and sanitation to improve
children’s health.
