Assessing the Factors Associated with Access to Safe Drinking Water among Rural Households in Uganda: A Case Study of Kalungi Sub-County, Nakasongola District.

Abstract

The general objective of the study is to assess the factors associated with access to safe drinking water among rural households in Uganda. The study applied a non-experimental design called descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised of rural households of Kalungi Sub-County in Nakasongola District. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA 13.0 software. Descriptive analysis was performed as well. Data was expressed as absolute numbers and percentages, and mean and standard deviations (SD). Comparisons between the groups were made using Chi-square (χ2) test, and a P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The Chi-Square results revealed that there is a significant relationship between social factors and access to safe drinking water among rural households in Uganda since the p-value is less than 0.05 with a Pearson Chi-Square of 27.32. Furthermore, Chi-Square results showed that the there is a significant relationship between demographic factors and access to safe drinking water among rural households in Uganda at 5 percent level of significance since the p-value is less than 0.05. Additionally, ANOVA study results revealed that there is no significant relationship between the economic factors and access to safe drinking water among rural households in Uganda at 5 percent level of significance since the p-value is greater than 0.05. Last but not least, logistic regression results revealed that there is a significant relationship between sex of household head, income level, age of household head and education level and access to safe drinking water among rural households at 95% confidence level since all their p-values are less than 0.05. The study therefore recommends that the government of Uganda through the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation should put in effective and efficient water production and distribution strategies in the Kalungi Sub-County in Nakasongola District since it population is steadily increasing.