Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 11

Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.

First read Case Study 11.1 and then answer the following questions.

Case study 11.1 A sanitary survey in Gondar town

A cross-sectional community-level study was conducted with the aim of assessing the environmental sanitation status of Gondar town. The researcher developed and used structured questionnaires to collect information. Among the visited households, 985 (65%) were in the high population density kebeles and 531 (35%) were in the low density kebeles. Respondents interviewed at the household level were 771 (51.9%) male and 745 (49.1%) female. Of the respondents, 868 (57.3%) were found to be literate and 772 (50.9%) of the households had latrines.

The researchers found that households with a higher educational level had a higher availability of latrines whereas households with a lower educational level had lower latrine availability. There was also a strong association between income and availability of latrines, i.e. those with a high income were more likely to have a latrine than those with a low income. 491 (32.4%) of the households had a monthly income of less than 110 Birr.

The average area of a housing unit was 34.96 square metres, with two rooms per housing unit, and an average occupancy of 5.20 persons per household. Only 758 (50%) of the households had a kitchen. Lack of space and high cost were among the reasons stated for not having a latrine. Of the households, 769 (50.7%) were disposing of their faeces (stools) in the open fields. Others used a private pit, or the kebele’s selected site and municipal collection containers. Of the respondents, a total of 1,432 (94%) washed their hands after passing stools or urine. Of these, 853 (59.6%) washed their hands without soap and 579 (40.4%) washed with soap.

The study was able to indicate the condition of environmental sanitation in Gondar town mainly in relation to water supply, housing, sanitation and hygienic practices. The situation in most cases was very poor. This may be due to social, economic, cultural and relevant knowledge barriers in the study area.

The average consumption of water in the study area was low (12 litres per household) compared to other urban areas of Ethiopia. Inability to pay for water, poor health awareness, and the poor level of personal hygiene might explain the below-average amount of water consumption. Diarrhoea, poor personal hygiene and eye problems were found to be common health problems in the study area. The standards of personal and environmental hygiene were very low where water was not adequately used.

(Adapted from Admassu, M., Wubshet, M. and Tilaye, T. (2004) Sanitary Survey in Gondar Town, Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 39–42.)

SAQ 11.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.1 and 11.3)

  • a.From your reading of Case Study 11.1, what demographic and epidemiological data were collected in the study?
  • b.What conclusions were drawn from these data about demographic factors affecting the hygiene and sanitation practices of households in the study area?

Answer

  • a.The demographic data collected in the study were: gender, number of households, population density, literacy rates and income levels.
  • b.The researchers concluded that the factors affecting the hygiene and sanitation practices of households in the study area were:
  • Population density: high risk of exposure to poor environmental conditions among households in high-density areas.
  • Income and educational status: more latrine availability was found among the better off households in terms of income and educational status, whereas those with low income and educational status had worse access to safe water and sanitary facilities.

SAQ 11.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.3)

What factors, other than economic or demographic, contributed to poor environmental sanitation in Gondar town?

Answer

The factors that contributed to poor environmental sanitation in Gondar town, other than economic or demographic, were:

  • Behavioural factors, e.g. poor awareness in the community of how diarrhoeal diseases are transmitted.
  • Physical factors, e.g. the low average consumption of water.

SAQ 11.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.3)

What were the common illnesses (morbidity) identified by the researchers that were associated with a low average amount of water usage?

Answer

Diarrhoea and eye problems were the common illnesses (morbidity) identified by the researchers that were associated with low average amount of water usage.

SAQ 11.4 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.2 and 11.3)

Can this research study described in Case Study 11.1 be used as part of the community profile for the sanitary situation in the study area? Explain why or why not.

Answer

Yes, this research study can be used as part of the community profile for the sanitary situation in the study area because information on demographic factors, latrine availability, solid waste management and drinking water supply at community (household) level was collected and analysed by the researchers.

Summary of Study Session 11