An assessment of the relationship between water and sanitation and disease prevalence in Kampala district

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between water and sanitation and disease prevalence in Kampala district. The objectives for this study were to establish the relationship between water and sanitation and disease prevalence in Kampala district, establish health and sanitation challenges facing the people of Kampala district, establish the level of accessibility to safe and affordable drinking-water in Kampala district and also propose the strategies that can be adopted to improve sanitation in Kampala district This study used secondary data from the Uganda National Household Survey 2019/2020 conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). In terms of coverage, the 2019/20 UNHS covered all the 129 districts in Uganda at that time. The different variables were subjected to univariate analysis using Stata. This was carried out by use of frequency tables to describe the structure of the respondents and their different composition. Bivariate analysis of the variables was carried out where the chi-square statistic test of independence, a non parametric analytical tool was used to examine if the categorical variables under examination are related or not. During multivariate analysis, the study employed the logistic regression tool to determine the significant water and sanitation issues that affect health status of individuals and families in Kampala Water and sanitation variables that were identified to have impact on disease prevalence were bathroom facility, solid waste disposal and hand washing facility The study therefore recommended that the government should develop sanitation programs under which the challenges should be tackled right from the root rather than attempting to manage the resultant unpleasant consequence, Privatized waste systems should be explored, there should be private sector participation i.e., public private partnership in waste management. The study concludes that despite the view that improving sanitation can be as simple as installing a well-designed ventilated pit latrine (VIP) or compositing latrine. Improving sanitation could be more challenging particularly in rapidly growing urban slums; given that, while building improved sanitation facilities is a crucial intervention, the full health benefit will not be realized without proper used and maintenance of the facilities and good personal and domestic hygiene