Behavioral factors associated with cholera outbreaks in Kilosa district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine behavioral factors associated with cholera. outbreaks in Kilosa district, Morogoro region. Specifically to determine awareness of cholera among heads of households, to assess the availability of latrines in the households, to determine water sources for domestic purposes and exploring different methods used for waste disposal within a household ..

This was a cross-sectional 'study involving 400 heads of households. Structured interview guide was used for generating data. Results of the study revealed that only 39.6% of respondents were aware of causes, mode of transmission and prevention of cholera. Females were better informed about the disease (44.2%)' than males (32.9%). Although 88.3% of respondents had latrines, only three out of five washed their hands after latrine use.

Regarding clean and safe water provision, the study revealed that only two-third of respondents had access to tap water for drinking, 56.6% of respondents use tap water for washing domestic utensils and 56% of respondents use tap water for washing their clothes. For waste management, the study revealed that 52.3% of respondents were disposing domestic waste haphazardly around the houses.

Regardless of having latrines and accessibility to clean and safe water by most of the households, cholera outbreaks were still rampant. Poor knowledge on the mode of transmission and preventive measures of cholera among community members posed a challenge to control measures of the disease in the District. Based on these fmdings, it is clear that there are poor community based programmes on methods of pit latrine reinforcement and poor supportive supervision to villagers on environmental sanitation. Therefore the researcher recommends that there should be Awareness and advocacy campaign on cholera disease as well as community participation on planning, implementation and evaluation of cholera control prevention strategies.