Correlates of low sanitation coverage in Uganda: a case study of Katanga, Kampala

Abstract

The study aimed at determination of the factors influencing low sanitation coverage in Uganda by considering Katanga area in Kampala as a case study. The study specifically investigated the relationship between socio demographic factors of the household head (Age, Gender and marital status of the household head) and sanitation coverage in Uganda as well as the influence of socioeconomic factors (Education level, income level, access to clean water and household size) on sanitation coverage in Uganda. The study employed the Logistic Regression model for multivariate analysis and chi-square test for bivariate analysis. The Chi-square test results indicated that household size, access to clean water and level of education of a household head have statistically significant relationship with sanitation coverage. The study findings also conveyed that the majority (98%) of the households in Katanga slum had access to a toilet facility and only 2% of the households were not accessing a toilet facility. The Logistic Regression Model (LRM) results indicated that there is a statistically significant and negative relationship between the education level of the household head and sanitation coverage. The study recommended that the government of the Republic of Uganda should also elevate the education level of population especially those living in slum areas, sensitize the people staying in slum areas about the use of scientific methods of family planning, regularly carry out inspections in the slum areas to check whether the people living in there are complying with the regulations as ruled out in the National Environment Act and provide toilet and water facilities that meet the required standards to reduce on the possible consequences of poor sanitation like cholera outbreak, diarrhea among others