An Analysis of Factors Influencing Household Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Experiences during Flood Hazards in Tsholotsho District Using a Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) Model

Communities around the world living in either urban or rural areas continue to experience serious WASH problems during flood episodes. Communities and individual households are affected differently depending on their coping capacities and their resource base. Flooding causes extensive damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, leaving communities vulnerable to WASH-related illnesses. This paper aimed to analyze factors influencing the community WASH experiences during flood incidences in Tsholotsho District using a Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model. The quantitative approach was used in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect data from household heads in Tsholotsho District. A total of 218 Questionnaires were administered in four wards that were purposively selected for this study. Gathered data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 22) and principal component analysis was done, which culminated in a SUR model. The key findings of the study were that outbreaks of water and hygiene-related diseases, ponding of water which provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and contamination of surface water were the major WASH problems experienced in Tsholotsho District among other problems. The study also found that access to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) programs, access to treated water, and level of education were positive and statistically significant in influencing some of the problems experienced during flooding. To increase the coping capacities of Tsholotsho communities, it is pertinent for governments and NGOs to consider implementing more WASH programs, increasing access to safe and clean drinking water, and increasing the level of education of communities.