Level of Faecal Coliform Contamination of Drinking Water Sources and Its Associated Risk Factors in Rural Settings of North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia A Cross-Sectional Community Based Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Today, close to a billion people mostl living inthe developing world do not have access to safe and adequate water.Several studies in Ethiopia indicate that the majority of thedrinking water sources had coliform count beyond the WHOstandard. Therefore, Regular quality control mechanisms need tobe in place. The objective of this study is therefore to determine thelevel of faecal coliform contamination of drinking water and itsassociated factors in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia.METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study wasconducted in rural parts of North Gondar Zone from April to July,2016. Water samples were taken from water sources usingstandardized water sampling techniques. Face-to-face interviewwith structured questionnaires were used to collect socio-economicand behavioral data. Univariate and multivariate analyses weredone using logistic regression models.RESULTS: A total of 736 households participated in the study.The prevalence of positive faecal coliform at water sources inNorth Gondar Zone was found to be 56.5% (n=416) with [95% CI(53-60)]. In multivariate analysis, educational status [(AOR): 0.28,95% CI (0.1-0.8], sanitary risk of contamination [AOR): 513,95%CI (51-511)] and water shortage experience [AOR: 0.25, 95%CI (0.12-0.5)] are variables identified as predictors for faecalcoliform contamination of water in the source.CONCLUSION: In this study, the prevalence of positive faecalcoliform at water source was high. Educational status, sanitaryRisk of contamination at the water source, water shortageexperience had significant associations with the presence of faecalcoliform in drinking water sources.