Contribution of water pollution from inadequate sanitation and housing quality to diarrheal disease in low-cost housing settlements of Cape Town, South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorGovender T.
dc.contributor.authorBarnes J.M.
dc.contributor.authorPieper C.H.
dc.date.accessioned2011-10-13T16:58:31Z
dc.date.available2011-10-13T16:58:31Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractObjectives: We investigated the effects of failing sanitation, poor housing conditions, and fecal pollution in runoff water on the health-particularly the incidence of diarrheal disease-of residents of low-cost housing settlements in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: In November 2009, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with structured interviews in 4 communities (n=336 dwellings; 1080 persons). We used Colilert defined-substrate technology to determine Escherichia coli levels in runoff water samples taken from the study communities. Results: Almost 15% of households disposed of soiled products in storm water drains and 6% disposed of soiled products in the street. In only 26% of the dwellings were toilets washed daily. Approximately 59% of dwellings lacked a tap near the toilet for hand washing, and 14% of respondents suffered 1 or more attacks of diarrhea in the 2 weeks preceding their interview. E.coli counts of runoff environmental water samples ranged from 750 to 1580000000 per 100 milliliters. Conclusions: A holistic and integrated approach is needed to improve housing quality and sanitation among Cape Town's low-income citizens.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationAmerican Journal of Public Health
dc.identifier.citation101
dc.identifier.citation7
dc.identifier.citationhttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79958823884&partnerID=40&md5=e4efdc73593acd6f7904f66fcb4e5143
dc.identifier.issn900036
dc.identifier.other10.2105/AJPH.2010.300107
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/16758
dc.subjectadolescent
dc.subjectadult
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectchi square distribution
dc.subjectchild
dc.subjectcross-sectional study
dc.subjectdiarrhea
dc.subjectfemale
dc.subjecthousing
dc.subjecthuman
dc.subjectinterview
dc.subjectmale
dc.subjectmicrobiology
dc.subjectmiddle aged
dc.subjectpoverty
dc.subjectquestionnaire
dc.subjectsanitation
dc.subjectsewage
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectstandard
dc.subjectstatistics
dc.subjectwater pollution
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectChi-Square Distribution
dc.subjectChild
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subjectDiarrhea
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHousing
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectInterviews as Topic
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectPoverty
dc.subjectQuestionnaires
dc.subjectSanitation
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectWaste Disposal, Fluid
dc.subjectWater Microbiology
dc.subjectWater Pollution
dc.subjectYoung Adult
dc.titleContribution of water pollution from inadequate sanitation and housing quality to diarrheal disease in low-cost housing settlements of Cape Town, South Africa
dc.typeArticle
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