02370nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260004400042653002600086653002400112653002200136653002100158653003000179100001400209700001600223700001300239700001500252700001400267245017000281490000700451520165700458022002502115       2025                            d  bSpringer Science and Business Media LLC10aImproved water supply10aSanitation coverage10aHygiene Practices10aHousehold access10aUrban–rural disparities1 aDebele WH1 aMuhammed SS1 aGebre MG1 aKahisay YF1 aWanore TD00aDisparities in household access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services: a cross-sectional study of rural–urban Kebeles in Werabe town, Ethiopia0 v103 a<p>Ethiopia has made significant progress in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access over the past decade, yet information on WASH facilities in semi-urban areas remains limited. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the level of improved water supply coverage, assess the availability and accessibility of improved sanitation facilities, and evaluate the key improved hygiene practices carried out at the household level in Silt’e zone Werabe town using a community-based cross-sectional descriptive design with 422 households across urban kebele 01/02 and peri-urban (Fugie Acharie/Anshebieso) kebeles. Data were collected via questionnaires, interviews, in-depth interviews with key informants, and observations, and analyzed using SPSS v26. Results showed disparities: only 15 (21.1%) (Fugie Acharie) and 27 (19.4%) (Anshebieso) in peri-urban kebeles accessed improved basic water services, compared to 78 (84.8)–109 (90.8%) in urban kebeles. Besides, sanitation coverage was higher, 62 (87.3%) and 132 (95.01%) used dry pit latrines. Moreover, mobile handwashing facilities were present in 58 (81.69%) and 118 (84.89%) households, yet soap availability lagged; 39 (54.93%) and 71 (51.07%) had soap for handwashing in the semi-urban kebeles. For instance, in urban 01 and 02 kebeles, most households, 85(92.4%) and 107 (89.2%), used dry pit latrines, with only 7(7.6%) and 13 (10.8%) using pour-flush toilets, respectively. The findings highlight urban-peri-urban inequities in WASH access, urging targeted interventions to improve water reliability, sanitation, and hygiene practices to achieve SDG 6 in semi-urban Ethiopia.</p>
  a2538-3604, 2522-0101