Household water treatment using adequate methods in sub-Saharan countries: evidence from 2013–2016 Demographic and Health Surveys

In sub-Saharan countries, where a large number of populations depend on unsafe water, household water treatment is the recommended means to reduce diarrhea. However, the practice in the region is very low. The current study is intended to assess the households' water treatment using adequate methods, boiling, adding bleach, filtration and solar disinfection, and associated factors in the region which will be an input to design and implement intervention strategies. The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data conducted from 2013 to 2016 in 23 sub-Saharan countries were obtained from the DHS program and weighted using the ‘svy’ command for analysis. The households' reported use of treatment methods and associated factors were analyzed using log-binomial regression. In total, 357,979 households were included in the analysis of which 29% used unimproved water for drinking purposes. Households reportedly treating water in the region were 22% and those who used adequate treatment methods were 18%. The households' reported use of adequate treatment methods was statistically associated with household head education, owning a radio and wealth quintiles. The treatment methods' use is low in the region therefore intervention on wide-scale use should be designed and implemented.