Abstract
M.A. (Public Health)
Background: Safe environmental conditions are of high significance in the treatment of infections in Health Care Facilities (HCFs) hence the action of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for health and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Basic water services are available in 81% of Zimbabwe’s HCFs with no major inequality between urban and rural areas. However, the complete variety of sanitation and hygiene services do not seem to be widely offered in Zimbabwe (WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2019). Objective: The study sought to evaluate the state of WASH services in HCFs in rural areas of Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted on seven public Hospitals within the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. Non-probability purposive sampling was adopted in choosing the study HCFs and random sampling was used in selecting the study participants (381 Health Care Workers (HCWs)). Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires. Data management and analysis was done using SPSS version 27 and EPINFO version 7.2.3. Results: The district council piped water system was associated with water availability, (AOR; 8.53, 95% CI: 2.11-34.55). In addition, distance from the inpatient wards was associated with the district council piped water system, (AOR; 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02-0.09). Moreover, the presence of flush/pour toilet was associated with water supply, (AOR; 0.20, 95 % CI: 0.09-0.40). Soap availability was more likely often among participants who reported using the District Council piped water, (AOR; 3.14, 95 % CI: 1.23-8.00). Conclusion: Water supply and accessibility in the assessed HCFs in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe is reasonably good. However, shortage of water supply still exists, mainly in the dry season and this negatively impacts sanitation and hygiene. Sanitation is also relatively good but improvements can still be done in order to meet the available national standards and the JMP-defined criteria for basic sanitation. The hygiene situation, in particular hand hygiene is relatively poor as soap is not always available and some handwashing facilities were reported to be non-functional.