Authors : Kambale Nyondo Jean Pierre; Abongo Omondi Benard; Careena Otieno Odawa; Paluku Maghulu Jacques; Fidele Hamuli; Frederick Hakizimana; Kambale Kisuba; Bahati Desiré; Bety Kasigwa

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/258jnsad

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2ddc8u5f

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec218

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Access to safe drinking water remains a critical public health challenge in low-resource and conflict-affected settings. This study evaluated the effect of household hygiene training on water quality and the reduction of diarrhea incidences among households in Goma Town, Democratic Republic of Congo, This study determined the effectiveness of training on the implementation of standard domestic water hygiene practices in reducing incidences of diarrhea in Lac Vert and Mugunga A quasi-experimental design was applied in two zones: Lac Vert (intervention) and Mugunga (control). Data were collected in two phases before and after the intervention using structured questionnaires, and microbiological water analysis. A total of 360 households participated, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 95% confidence level. Before the intervention, most households in both zones exhibited poor hygiene practices, including unsafe water storage(p =0.033), irregular cleaning of containers(p =0.147), and minimal water treatment(p =0.005). Laboratory analyses revealed high levels of total coliforms and Escherichia coli in drinking water(p = 0.001), with Mugunga showing the highest contamination. Following the hygiene training intervention in Lac Vert, significant behavioral improvements were observed households increasingly treated water through boiling and filtration(p = 0.001), used covered containers, and practiced regular handwashing with soap(p =0.001). Correspondingly, the microbiological quality of water improved markedly, with a 99.9% reduction in bacterial load (Log Reduction Value = 3.0). Diarrheal incidence among children under five decreased substantially in Lac Vert during Phase II (p < 0.001), while Mugunga recorded no improvement. The study concludes that structured, participatory household hygiene training is effective in improving domestic water hygiene practices, enhancing microbiological water quality, and reducing diarrheal morbidity. It recommends the institutionalization of hygiene training within community health programs and the National Health Development Plan coupled with routine water quality monitoring and continuous behavioral reinforcement. The findings contribute new evidence from a fragile urban context, affirming that safe water and reduced disease burden depend not only on infrastructure but also on consistent and informed household practices.

Keywords : Effect, Household, Water, Quality, Incidences, Diarrhea.

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