Baseline Survey on the most Prevalent Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) and Sanitation Practices in Hamer, Dassenech and Nyangtom Woredas of South Omo Zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia

Background  
In South Omo there are 16 indigenous ethnic groups with different traditional practices. 7 of them are living in Hamer, Dassenech, and Nyangtom districts, where the study was conducted. Previous studies have documented severe Prevalent Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) like Mingi (when a child is considered cursed and is killed to stop it from bringing evil into the community), forced abortion, whipping during cattle jumping and others in these three districts. SCN-E recently launched a new project entitled Supporting Community Changes through the HTPs and Promotion of Health and Sanitation for the Wellbeing of Children in the studied districts.

Purpose/objective  
The main objective of this baseline survey is to generate information including basic indicators of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) on HTP and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as a benchmark to compare post project intervention. The baseline also include the identification of activities performed, challenges and gaps, to come up with feasible recommendation for the success of the project and sustainability of the results expected to be achieved by the project.
  
Methodology  
Document reviews, and both quantitative and qualitative data collection method have been used. Secondary government documentation of HTP was consulted. 1208 individuals above the age of 15 years have been interviewed using a structured questionnaire from the three district’s capitals and rural neighborhoods to incorporate the six ethnic groups residing there. 60 key informants were interviewed in depth and 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were performed by the research team.
  
Key findings  
In-depth information has been collected on 12 selected HTPs out of the 12 beneficial and 25 harmful traditional practices which key informants identified. The 12 Priority HTPs are grouped into two: 1) priorities from 1- 7 and includes whipping, forced abortion, Mingi, inheritance marriage, old aged man marrying young girl (yalachagabecha), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and Milk teeth extraction (MTE).  2) Early Marriage (EM), Marriage by Abduction (MBA), excessive feast, Skin cutting around the chest (dretmeteltel) and robbery/killing each other.

Information: % of respondents having received information about:

Prevalence:

• Knowledge: More than 65% of the respondents consider Mingi, forced abortion and MBA as harmful traditional practices. For other HTPs, this knowledge lies between 60 to 65% while it is below 60% for MTE and whipping.
• Attitude/intention: Over 60% of the respondents support the eradication of, and promised not to perform, 9 different HTP included in the current studies except MTE and Whipping.
• The major sources of water are river and chiroshe (shallow and temporary bore hole over sandstone), and the majority of the community members do not have latrine and those with latrine are not using it properly and continuously.
The majority of the community members in the study area do not support protection of water point, construction of latrine and washing hand as means of disease prevention.

Recommendations  
• Adopt indigenous communication mechanisms to reach the remotest Pastoralist Association (PAs) of the study area through community members at market places, religious institutions, schools, health facilities and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) like Debo or Jege.
• Establishing and updating a registry of practitioners in the community and following them up, informing them on the laws regarding HTPs, providing training for alternative employment and/or income generating activities and encouraging them to serve as change agents. Take legal measures on recalcitrant practitioners.
• Give legal, medical, psychological and economic support as required and feasible to victims of HTPs. This also assists to bring practical behavioral change if the project mobilizes victims as change agents and invite them to share their experience with community members.
• Family planning practices can reduce the Mingi and forced abortion practices.
• Sustainability of water, sanitation, and hygiene practices can be improved by strengthening the public sector working on WASH program like the health extension program.
• Empower women through providing water management knowledge and skill in this issue.
  
Comments from the organization, if any