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Infections in children under 5 years old and latrine cleanliness
S Galal1, C Sundaram, N Hassan
1Faculty of Medicine, Medinet Nasr, Cairo, Egypt. hashem@mboxes.com
Insights
Latrine cleanliness did not directly correlate with infections in children under five. However, diarrheal infections were more common in homes with both latrines and water taps, indicating complex sanitation-disease links.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Sanitation infrastructure, such as latrines, is crucial for preventing infectious diseases in young children.
- Understanding the relationship between latrine cleanliness and disease incidence is vital for targeted public health interventions.
- Previous studies suggest a link between poor sanitation and increased risk of childhood infections, particularly diarrheal diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cleanliness of household latrines in Upper Egypt.
- To determine the association between latrine cleanliness and the occurrence of diseases in children under five years old.
- To identify factors influencing latrine cleanliness and their impact on child health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A stratified random sampling method was employed, surveying 1327 households across 11 villages in Upper Egypt.
- A sub-sample of 541 children under five living in households with latrines was included for detailed analysis.
- Latrine cleanliness was assessed, and its relationship to disease occurrence within a two-week period was statistically analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children under five in households with latrines experienced infections at a rate of 33.1%, slightly higher than the 28.3% in households without latrines.
- Diarrheal infections were most prevalent in households possessing both a latrine and a water tap.
- While latrine cleanliness correlated with factors like fly presence, building materials, and maternal education, it did not show a statistically significant relationship with infection occurrence in children under five within the study period.
Conclusions:
- The study found no direct correlation between latrine cleanliness scores and the occurrence of infections in children under five.
- The co-existence of latrines and water taps was associated with a higher incidence of diarrhea, suggesting potential contamination pathways.
- Further research is needed to explore the complex interplay of sanitation facilities, hygiene practices, and disease transmission in this population.
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to assess the cleanliness of the latrine and its relation to occurrence of disease in children under 5 years old. A stratified random sample of 1327 households was conducted in 11 villages in Upper Egypt. It included a sub-sample of 541 children under 5 years living in households with latrines. The latrine cleanliness was assessed and its relationship to disease occurrence within a period of 2 weeks. Thirty-three percent (33.1%) of children under 5 years old with latrines in their household had infections, compared to 28.3% of those without latrines in the house. Infection with diarrhoea was found most in houses with latrine and water tap. A relation was found between latrine cleanliness score and presence of flies, house building material and maternal education, but none with occurrence of infection in children under 5 years old within a period of 2 weeks.