Back to Search
Start Over
Is there a difference in prevalence of helminths between households using ecological sanitation and those using traditional pit latrines? A latrine based cross sectional comparative study in Malawi.
- Source :
-
BMC research notes [BMC Res Notes] 2017 Jun 09; Vol. 10 (1), pp. 200. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jun 09. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Background: Studies have shown that households using sludge from human excreta for agriculture are at an increased risk of soil transmitted helminths. However, while use of ecological sanitation (EcoSan) latrines is increasing in most African countries including Malawi, few studies have been done to check whether use of such sludge could potentially increase the prevalence of helminthic infections among household members as a results of exposure to faecal sludge/compared to use of traditional latrines.<br />Methods: A cross sectional study was done targeting households using EcoSan and traditional pit latrines. Samples were collected from both types of latrines in Chikwawa (rural) and Blantyre (urban) districts. These two districts have a high number of EcoSan latrines in southern region of Malawi. 156 latrines were sampled (n = 95 traditional; n = 61 EcoSan), and processed following standard guidelines using modified triple floatation method. Identification of helminth ova (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Taenia spp. and Diphyllobothrium latum) was done using standard microscopy methods. The difference between the prevalence and mean concentration of helminths between the two types of latrines was tested using Chi Square and t test respectively.<br />Results: Of the total latrines tested, 85.9% (n = 134) had at least one species of helminth while 84.6% (n = 132) had at least a STH, with 82.0% (n = 50) in EcoSan and 86.3% (n = 82) in traditional pit latrines. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of helminths in EcoSan and traditional pit latrines [χ <superscript>2</superscript>  = 0.43 (1), P = 0.5]. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was significantly higher in EcoSan than in traditional pit latrines [χ <superscript>2</superscript>  = 5.44 (1) p = 0.02] while prevalence of hookworms was significantly higher in traditional pit latrines than in EcoSan latrines [χ <superscript>2</superscript>  = 13.98 (1) p < 0.001]. The highest concentration of helminths per gram of faecal sludge was in traditional pit latrines [31.2 (95% CI 19.1-43.2)] than in EcoSan latrines [26.4 (95% CI 16.5-36.3)].<br />Conclusion: There was no significant difference between overall prevalence of helminths between households using EcoSan and those using traditional pit latrines. However, Ascaris lumbricoides was significantly higher in households using EcoSan latrines. EcoSan users need awareness on safe ways of handling faecal sludge in order to reduce chances of reinfection from Ascaris lumbricoides. Further research should be undertaken on household members to identify those infected and potential routes of infection to enable preventive targeting.
- Subjects :
- Agriculture methods
Animals
Cross-Sectional Studies
Family Characteristics
Feces parasitology
Female
Helminthiasis epidemiology
Malawi epidemiology
Male
Prevalence
Rural Population statistics & numerical data
Sanitation standards
Sewage parasitology
Socioeconomic Factors
Toilet Facilities standards
Urban Population statistics & numerical data
Helminthiasis parasitology
Helminths physiology
Sanitation statistics & numerical data
Toilet Facilities statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1756-0500
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC research notes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28599671
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-2519-7