Factors associated with a cholera outbreak in Dar es Salaam city

Abstract

A case control study was conducted in three municipals - Ilala, Kinondoni and Temeke in Dar es Salaam City from 26 May 2002 to 14th June 2002. The aim of the study was to determine factors associated with current cholera outbreak in Dar es Salaam. One hundred cholera cases and Two hundreds controls, all hospitalized patients were interviewed. Information about availability of water, risk behaviors, history of the disease regarding time person and place, access to liquid and solid waste disposal system all related to cholera transmission were collected using closed and open ended structured questionnaires. The researchers findings revealed that cholera outbreak in Dar as salaam city was mainly associated with shallow well water sources for domestic use and behavior of drinking unboiled well water., Study showed that there was a relation of cholera transmission with increasing in number of people sharing toilets and houses as a risk factor but it was statistically not significant. In order to avoid this problem to continue in future, the city authority has been advised to consider the problem of water to be one of their first priorities in their plan, health education should be used to educate people to change their behaviors because control of cholera will depend on educating these people in healthful sanitation methods Authorities should regularly adhere to health regulation instead of present traditional periodical strictness following periods of outbreak crises. The community in the other hand has been advised to practice habit of drinking safe water-boiled or special bottled to minimize risk of cholera infection and to work hand in hand with authorities and follow advises from health expertise