Bacteriological quality of drinking water and its associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2025

Bacteriological Quality of Drinking Water in Ethiopia

Sample size: 7962 publication 20 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Daba Chala, Berhanu Leykun, Desye Belay, Berihun Gete, Geto Abebe Kassa

Primary Institution: Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia

Hypothesis

What is the bacteriological quality of drinking water in Ethiopia and what factors are associated with its contamination?

Conclusion

The bacteriological quality of drinking water in Ethiopia is poor, with many sources failing to meet safety standards.

Supporting Evidence

  • 52.26% of drinking water samples were found to be contaminated.
  • 14.13% of water sources were at a very high sanitary risk level.
  • The absence of household-level water treatment significantly increased contamination risk.

Takeaway

Many people in Ethiopia drink water that is dirty and can make them sick. We need to make sure our water is clean and safe to drink.

Methodology

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 studies using random-effects models to estimate pooled prevalence.

Potential Biases

Potential publication bias was identified in the included studies.

Limitations

The study is limited by the variability in the quality of included studies and the lack of nationwide assessments.

Participant Demographics

The studies included various regions in Ethiopia, focusing on different water sources.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI: 39.09–65.43

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0310731

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