Environmental Factors Associated with Common Waterborne Diseases among Al-Shuka Community - Rafah Governorate
Amal Sarsour, Ghada A. Al Khatib, Mazen Hamada
معهد المياه والبيئة-جامعة الازهر - غزة-جامعة الازهر - غزة · فلسطين
Lack of sustainability of water supply and sanitation services are always considered as major issue in developing countries that accounts for high prevalence of water borne diseases. The aim of this study is to identify the environmental determinants and socio demographic factors of common water borne diseases among people of Al Shuka area in Rafah Governorate in the Gaza Strip. In addition to, measure if there are differences in the water borne diseases prevalence among people after intervention by Oxfam-GB at Al Shuka area through providing the people with healthy water and conducting awareness program to improve people behaviour and environment. In order to achieve this aim, the researcher utilized quantitative and qualitative measures by incorporating pre and post face to face questionnaire, with observation tool to assess the environmental health situation and personal hygiene of surveyed households, in addition to conduct focus groups discussions with females households after the intervention to verify the achieved results. Water samples collection and analysis before and after Oxfam-GB intervention were also implemented to evaluate the water quality. Data were analyzed by performing the descriptive and inferential statistics, Chi-square test of independence, determining P values and logistic regression analysis. Based on the study results it is concluded that the most common water borne diseases in the area of Al Shuka are including: diarrheal, dermal and eye diseases. The results showed that in pre-test questionnaire which was filled before Oxfam-GB intervention, there were about (34.6%) of the study sample (n=208) have suffered from diarrhea, during last two weeks before answering the questionnaire of the pre-test stage, while in post-test after Oxfam-GB intervention the incidence of diarrhea decline, but unfortunately it increased again among the people in 2-3 months after Oxfam ended distributing water tanks according to what mentioned by households in the focus groups discussion. About (45.2%) of the study sample suffered from other water borne diseases with (78%) of them suffered from dermal diseases and about (57%) of them suffered from eye diseases, while after the implementation of Oxfam project only one person suffered from other water borne diseases. Considering the most age group affected by the identified common water borne diseases, the results demonstrated that the most common age group who suffered from diarrheal diseases among the infected people was children less than 5 years (68%), while out of people who suffered from other water borne diseases; women were the highest age groups who suffered from dermal (37.7%). Whereas, the most age group who were infected with eye diseases were from children above 5 years with about (20.2%). Furthermore, water borne diseases found to be associated with environmental factors and personal hygiene such as (drinking water tank is closed properly, there is stagnant /algae below drinking tank, there is a basin near/inside the bathroom, the level of hygiene in the sanitary facilities, the basin in the bathroom is much higher than the children's level, there are flies inside the bathroom/kitchen, there is a bad smell inside the bathroom), whereas the results of logistic regression analysis showed that demographic variables (qualification, type of occupation, level of monthly income) did not have a significant effect on the spread of water borne diseases in the area of Al Shuka-Rafah governorate. There was significant positive improvement in the rate of diseases incidence at Al Shuka area during the intervention of Oxfam. However, after the end of Oxfam project the situation returned as it was before Oxfam intervention where people became suffering again from water borne diseases. Given these results further concern by local and international organizations should be paid to improve the
