Association between environmental factors and the prevalence of diarrhoea in Huye urban informal settlements, Rwanda
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Date
2015
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
Annually diarrhoea leads to nearly 1 million deaths globally. Many of these deaths occur in urban areas of low and middle income countries where rapid urban growth outpaces development of hygiene and sanitation infrastructure. However, there is a dearth of studies on the dynamics of diarrhoea among residents of mountainous urban informal settlements. This study was undertaken to examine the association between environmental factors and the prevalence of diarrhoea in Huye urban informal settlements in Rwanda. Three objectives guided the study. The first was to examine the effects of the environment context on water supplies, water management, hygiene and sanitation. The second was to determine the prevalence of diarrhoea, and the third was to assess the link between the environment context and the prevalence of diarrhoea. Data were collected through household surveys, observations of the physical environment and focus group discussions. Survey data were analysed through frequency distributions, cross-tabulations and logistic regression models while qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis technique. Results indicate that the mountainous nature coupled with the inadequate drainage and waste management systems compromise the status of water, sanitation and hygiene. Diarrhoea is more prevalent during the wet season (55% of the households in Matyazo and nearly 46% in Rango) compared with the dry season (24% in Matyazo and 31% in Rango). The study indicates a spatial pattern of diarrhoea prevalence. In Matyazo, risks for diarrhoea significantly increase with distance from the road, contrary to Rango settlements where residents of around the road are significantly more likely to have diarrhoea compared with households located further from the road. This is linked to absence of hygiene and sanitation facilities around the main road: Travellers from rural areas share the inadequate facilities available. Further, the study confirms that the use of water from the valley sources, the presence of waste and flies, as well as the lack of hygienic habits within households are associated with the increase of the prevalence of diarrhoea. The study recommends the provision and extension of infrastructure for improved water, drainage, sanitation and wastes management facilities in the study area. Equally, studies should be done to identify the level of contamination and potential origin of contaminants for water sources in the valleys to adequately control the risks for diarrhoea in mountainous urban settings.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HD7287.96.R95U94)
Keywords
Squatter settlements, Diarrhoea, Environmental aspects, Huye city, Rwanda
Citation
Uwizeye, D. (2015).Association between environmental factors and the prevalence of diarrhoea in Huye urban informal settlements, Rwanda. Doctoral dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.