Sanitation practices and associated factors among households in Gozamin District, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract Background Adequate sanitation practices are essential for preventing infectious diseases and promoting community health. Despite global progress in sanitation coverage, poor sanitation continues to remains a major public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. However, evidence on household sanitation practices and associated factors in Gozamin District remains limited. Objective This study aimed to assess sanitation practices and associated factors among households in Gozamin District, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 616 households, including both households with and without latrines. The households were selected from ten kebeles using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. The collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with household sanitation practices. Variables with a p value less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were considered statistically significant predictors of sanitation practices. Results Overall, 55.2% (95% CI 51.4–59.2) of households demonstrated good sanitation practices. In the multivariable analysis, being a female household head, higher education level, presence of a latrine, sanitation knowledge, and attitude toward sanitation were significantly associated with sanitation practices. Female-headed households (AOR = 3.67; 95% CI 2.49–6.23), literate respondents (AOR = 5.92; 95% CI 1.85–9.29), those with a latrine (AOR = 4.63; 95% CI 2.14–10.03), respondents with good sanitation knowledge (AOR = 3.71; 95% CI 1.92–7.18), and those with a positive attitude toward sanitation (AOR = 3.39; 95% CI 1.71–6.72) were more likely to practice good sanitation. Conclusion This study found that 55.2% of households practiced good sanitation, indicating that sanitation practices remain suboptimal in the study area. Sex, educational status, presence of a latrine, knowledge, and attitude toward sanitation were significantly associated with sanitation practices . Local health departments should implement targeted WASH training programs reaching female-headed households and adult literacy classes in kebeles with < 40% sanitation coverage, while strengthening targeted sanitation education programs to improve household sanitation practices.