Assessment of water, hygiene, and sanitation practice and associated factors among Bihari refugee camp in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Md Khaled Sifullah; Md Salman Sohel; Safayet Jamil; Md Mahdi Hasan; Jeba Anika; Husain Rakib Swadhin; Neeru Chaudhary; Md Naimur Rahman; Mohima Shaiara; Md Tariqul Islam; Babor Ahmad; Mishal Islam Shomapto; Md Fouad Hossain Sarker; S M Sohag

doi:10.1002/hsr2.1910

Assessment of water, hygiene, and sanitation practice and associated factors among Bihari refugee camp in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Health Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 27;7(2):e1910. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1910. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Authors

Md Khaled Sifullah^{1

2}, Md Salman Sohel², Safayet Jamil³, Md Mahdi Hasan⁴, Jeba Anika⁵, Husain Rakib Swadhin⁶, Neeru Chaudhary⁷, Md Naimur Rahman^{2

8

9}, Mohima Shaiara¹⁰, Md Tariqul Islam¹¹, Babor Ahmad¹², Mishal Islam Shomapto¹³, Md Fouad Hossain Sarker², S M Sohag¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering Daffodil International University Dhaka Bangladesh.
² Department of Development Studies Daffodil International University Dhaka Bangladesh.
³ Department of Public Health Daffodil International University Dhaka Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Statistics Dhaka College Dhaka Bangladesh.
⁵ Department of Sociology University of Dhaka Dhaka Bangladesh.
⁶ Department of Sociology Bangladesh University Dhaka Bangladesh.
⁷ Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University New Delhi India.
⁸ Department of Geography Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong.
⁹ David C Lam Institute for East-West Studies Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong.
¹⁰ Department of Public Administration Jagannath University Dhaka Bangladesh.
¹¹ Department of Development Studies Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Dhaka Bangladesh.
¹² Department of Economics Dhaka International University Dhaka Bangladesh.
¹³ Department of Persian Language and Literature University of Dhaka Dhaka Bangladesh.
¹⁴ Department of Pharmacy University of Development Alternative Dhaka Bangladesh.

Abstract

Background and aims: The global significance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) cannot be overstated, extending far beyond the confines of developing nations and encompassing even the most developed ones. This study, rooted in the Bihari refugee camp in Bangladesh, seeks to underscore the universality of WASH concerns.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire, we conducted a meticulous evaluation of WASH practices with 313 participants selected through random sampling.

Results: Findings shows the water practice, among all of them, only 4.8% of the respondents were very happy with the water supply system and 16.0% of the respondents were happy with this. A total of 29.7% of the respondents were satisfied with safe drinking water and only 4.8% of the respondents were very satisfied with safe drinking water. Regarding the hygiene practice, among all respondents, 10.2% of them were satisfied with using the same bathroom by multiple people. Only 5.4% respondents were happy in their living environment. Regarding sanitation practice, only 31.3% had private toilet facilities. Among all of the respondents, 13.7% of the respondents were satisfied with using the same toilet by multiple people. Respondents who were illiterate (p < 0.01) and self-employed (p < 0.04) were satisfied with the water supply. Similarly, respondents who were illiterate (p < 0.03) and self-employed (p < 0.00) were satisfied with safe drinking water. Respondents who were illiterate (p < 0.02) and whose monthly income was below 8000 BDT (p < 0.00) were satisfied using same bathroom by multiple people. Respondents who were self-employed (p < 0.01), whose monthly income 8000-12,000 BDT (p < 0.01) and having single room (p < 0.00) were satisfied using the same toilet by multiple people.

Conclusion: Enhanced access to safe WASH facilities, coupled with a comprehensive understanding of the study's findings, have the potential to serve as vital signposts for the development and implementation of policies and interventions.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Bihari refugee camp; hygiene; sanitation; water.