Environmental risk factors associated with community diarrheal disease in Ethiopia

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research institute
cg.contributor.affiliationOhio State University
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Livestock Research Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationEthiopian Public Health Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationOhio State Global One Health Initiative Eastern Africa Regional Office
cg.contributor.affiliationHaramaya University
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Gondar
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Pennsylvania
cg.contributor.affiliationGeorge Washington University
cg.contributor.donorGates Foundation
cg.contributor.donorForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office, United Kingdom
cg.coverage.countryEthiopia
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2ET
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierLINA MEGO: 0000-0001-5366-5346
cg.creator.identifierSilvia Alonso: 0000-0002-0565-536X
cg.howPublishedFormally Published
cg.identifier.dataurlhttp://datadryad.org/stash/share/b5l5oLHJ0xy-g-ogS6wDCg202ipPvyfj-WCujChZmT0
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23086-4
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn1471-2458
cg.journalBMC Public Health
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
cg.subject.ilriENVIRONMENT
cg.subject.ilriHUMAN HEALTH
cg.subject.impactAreaNutrition, health and food security
cg.subject.sdgSDG 3 - Good health and well-being
cg.volume25
dc.contributor.authorLaPolt, D.
dc.contributor.authorSmith, S.
dc.contributor.authorGazu, Lina
dc.contributor.authorAlonso, Silvia
dc.contributor.authorTeshale, A.M.
dc.contributor.authorAzmeraye, B.M.
dc.contributor.authorAyana, G.M.
dc.contributor.authorAngaw, D.A.
dc.contributor.authorDegefaw, D.
dc.contributor.authorGarsow, A.V.
dc.contributor.authorBeczkiewicz, A.
dc.contributor.authorYimer, G.
dc.contributor.authorKrakowski, M.J.
dc.contributor.authorScharff, R.
dc.contributor.authorSeyoum, E.T.
dc.contributor.authorKowalcyk, B.
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-27T18:30:52Z
dc.date.available2025-05-27T18:30:52Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/174847
dc.titleEnvironmental risk factors associated with community diarrheal disease in Ethiopiaen
dcterms.abstractBackground: Diarrhea is a major contributor to mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to improved sanitation and clean water is limited. Identifying factors associated with diarrhea across geographical regions and age groups can inform resource allocation toward water infrastructure, healthcare, and disease mitigation. The objective of this study was to identify environmental risk factors associated with diarrhea in the general population across multiple communities in Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in three regions in Ethiopia from October 2021-October 2022. REDCAP mobile app was used to collect data during face-to-face interviews using a structured, pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics characterized household environmental exposures. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with diarrhea. Results: A total of 2,436 households participated in the study. Of these, 10.3% of households reported at least one case of diarrhea during the previous four weeks. Household animal ownership varied by site, with Addis Ababa reporting the lowest animal ownership and Harar reporting the highest ownership. Across all sites, pit latrines without covers were the most common sanitation facility. Water piped to yard was the most frequent source of drinking water and most households did not use treated water (boiled/filtered) when handling food. No environmental factors were associated with diarrhea in Addis Ababa. In Gondar, drinking water from unprotected wells was associated with increased odds of diarrhea [COR:4.81(95%CI:2.03,11.43)]. Dry season was associated with decreased odds of diarrhea compared to short [COR:0.42(95%CI:0.24,0.75)] and long rains seasons [COR:0.55(95%CI: 0.34,0.88)]. In Harar, drinking water from communal taps was associated with increased odds of diarrhea [COR:2.02(95%CI:1.32,3.09)]. Conclusion: Multiple environmental factors for diarrhea were identified. Given the variation in factors by site, strategies for intervention and management should be community-specific. These factors can be managed through improved water treatment, sanitation practices, and educational programs focused on proper hygiene. Efforts to manage these factors can potentially reduce the burden of diarrheal diseases.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceAcademics
dcterms.audienceScientists
dcterms.available2025-05-27
dcterms.bibliographicCitationLaPolt, D., Smith, S., Gazu, L., Alonso, S., Teshale, A.M., Azmeraye, B.M., Ayana, G.M., Angaw, D.A., Degefaw, D., Garsow, A.V., Beczkiewicz, A., Yimer, G., Krakowski, M.J., Scharff, R., Seyoum, E.T. and Kowalcyk, B. 2025. Environmental risk factors associated with community diarrheal disease in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 25: 1959.
dcterms.extent1959
dcterms.issued2025-05-27
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherBioMed Central
dcterms.subjectdiarrhoea
dcterms.subjectenvironment
dcterms.subjecthealth
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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