Knowledge, attitude, and practice of water, sanitation, and hygiene among internally displaced persons in Somalia.

introductionAccess to clean water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene services is a basic human right. Despite this, it remains one of the major challenges that internally displaced persons face in Somalia. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Internally Displaced Persons regarding Water, sanitation, and hygiene.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among Internally Displaced Persons in eight high-density camps in Mogadishu and Baidoa. A 3-stage sampling technique was used to select 8 high-density camps, households, and 728 participants. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire included scoring systems for knowledge, attitude, and practices, measured on a point scale; for example, knowledge scores were categorized as poor or good based on a predefined cutoff point, with similar criteria for attitude and practice ratings. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and chi-square testing at p < 0.05.

resultsThe study found that most participants had 71.2% poor knowledge, 70.3% negative attitudes, and 80.2% demonstrated poor practices towards water, sanitation, and hygiene. The study found that there is a significant association between sociodemographic factors and the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice. Specifically, there were significant associations between knowledge levels and age (p < 0.001), marital status (p = 0.001), level of education (p = 0.048), employment status (p < 0.001), family size (p < 0.001), duration of stay in Internally Displaced Persons camp (p < 0.001), and utilization of healthcare services (p < 0.001). Similarly, negative attitude towards water, sanitation, and hygiene was significantly associated with younger age groups (p < 0.001), marital status (p = 0.004), educational attainment (p < 0.001), employment (p < 0.001), household size (p < 0.001), duration of camp residency (p < 0.001), and healthcare access (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the level of education, employment status, household size, and duration of stay in camp were significantly associated with water, sanitation, and hygiene practices at p < 0.001.

conclusionThe study indicates that poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and inadequate practices concerning water, sanitation, and hygiene are prevalent among Internally Displaced Persons in Somalia. To address these issues, it is essential to implement targeted educational programs aimed at improving awareness of water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, enhancing access to hygiene facilities, and involving community leaders in promoting behavioral change. Additionally, improving the availability of clean water and sanitation services in Internally Displaced Persons camps is crucial for improving health outcomes and overall well-being among this population.