Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control

Summary: Background: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) are compromised during emergencies and in the post-conflict period. The IPC-WASH status of primary healthcare facilities in Tigray, Ethiopia, is not known. The aim of the study was to assess the IPC...

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Main Authors: Akeza Awealom Asgedom, Gebru Hailu Redae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Infection Prevention in Practice
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000611
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author Akeza Awealom Asgedom
Gebru Hailu Redae
author_facet Akeza Awealom Asgedom
Gebru Hailu Redae
author_sort Akeza Awealom Asgedom
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) are compromised during emergencies and in the post-conflict period. The IPC-WASH status of primary healthcare facilities in Tigray, Ethiopia, is not known. The aim of the study was to assess the IPC-WASH status of facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: As part of a cross-sectional study, data were collected from January to February 2024 in 32 randomly selected primary healthcare facilities using an electronic Open Data Kit (ODK) based on a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the IPC-WASH services. The analyzed data were compared with the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) service ladders and presented in texts, figures and tables. Results: Nearly seven out of ten primary healthcare facilities had improved water sources, nine out of ten had latrines with limited sanitation facilities, and four out of ten had handwashing facilities. Eight out of ten facilities had no access to personal protective equipment, and most facilities surveyed had very limited waste management services, IPC capacity building and IPC committee. According to JMP service ladders, almost one in four primary healthcare facilities had basic water supply, one in ten had basic sanitation, basic hygiene and basic waste disposal. Conclusions: The overall result of the study shows that access to IPC-WASH is low in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia. Collaborative efforts to improve access to basic IPC-WASH facilities and IPC capacity building are essential to improve the quality of care.
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spelling doaj-art-783b5b320091452d8677656321c3fa012025-08-20T02:06:57ZengElsevierInfection Prevention in Practice2590-08892024-12-016410039710.1016/j.infpip.2024.100397Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and controlAkeza Awealom Asgedom0Gebru Hailu Redae1Corresponding author.; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, EthiopiaSummary: Background: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) are compromised during emergencies and in the post-conflict period. The IPC-WASH status of primary healthcare facilities in Tigray, Ethiopia, is not known. The aim of the study was to assess the IPC-WASH status of facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: As part of a cross-sectional study, data were collected from January to February 2024 in 32 randomly selected primary healthcare facilities using an electronic Open Data Kit (ODK) based on a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the IPC-WASH services. The analyzed data were compared with the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) service ladders and presented in texts, figures and tables. Results: Nearly seven out of ten primary healthcare facilities had improved water sources, nine out of ten had latrines with limited sanitation facilities, and four out of ten had handwashing facilities. Eight out of ten facilities had no access to personal protective equipment, and most facilities surveyed had very limited waste management services, IPC capacity building and IPC committee. According to JMP service ladders, almost one in four primary healthcare facilities had basic water supply, one in ten had basic sanitation, basic hygiene and basic waste disposal. Conclusions: The overall result of the study shows that access to IPC-WASH is low in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia. Collaborative efforts to improve access to basic IPC-WASH facilities and IPC capacity building are essential to improve the quality of care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000611EthiopiaIPCJMP service laddersTigrayWASHWaste management
spellingShingle Akeza Awealom Asgedom
Gebru Hailu Redae
Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control
Infection Prevention in Practice
Ethiopia
IPC
JMP service ladders
Tigray
WASH
Waste management
title Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control
title_full Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control
title_fullStr Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control
title_full_unstemmed Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control
title_short Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control
title_sort water sanitation hygiene and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war torn tigray ethiopia implications for infection prevention and control
topic Ethiopia
IPC
JMP service ladders
Tigray
WASH
Waste management
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000611
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