Socio-environmental aspects and diseases related to contaminated water in vulnerable communities in the Northeast of Brazil (original) (raw)
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Research, Society and Development
The aim of this investigation was to analyse the perception of waterborne diseases and socioeconomic and environmental aspects of Quilombolas in vulnerable communities in Northeast Brazil, as the research was conducted in three vulnerable communities located in this area. The study was sectional regarding quantitative approach and was carried out from September 2018–August 2019 through interviews with 164 individuals and the analysis of drinking water quality. The highest prevalence was intestinal parasitic diseases (57%), primarily Schistosoma mansoni (20%). The interviews revealed that 27% of individuals used drinking water from the general distribution network and 26% from a well/spring outside the residence. Of these, 39% did not undergo any treatment before ingestion. Of the 10 water samples collected for microbiological analysis, there was growth of heterotrophic bacteria (53%), faecal coliforms (50%) and thermotolerant bacteria (7%). Study participants were subject to environ...
Environmental Science and Pollution Research , 2021
The quality of the water consumed by a given community is related to its quality of life. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate, from the perspective of health risk, the physical, chemical, and microbiological quality of drinking water, in a quilombola community, and the qualitative aspects intrinsic to its use and storage. For this, water samples, collected at the exits of the collective water supply system and from eight cisterns that store rainwater, used for human consumption, were analyzed. The samples were subjected to physical, chemical, and microbiological analysis, including adenovirus (HAdV) and enterovirus (EV). The probability of an individual acquiring infection through water consumption was determined by quantitative microbiological risk analysis using HAdV and Escherichia coli (EC) as reference pathogens. The results showed that the water in the deep tubular well had 270.8 mg/L of total hardness, leading to the rejection of its consumption by ingestion. Alternativity, the people in the community consume rainwater stored in cisterns. For this type of water, the presence of heterotrophic bacteria was found in 75%, total coliform was present in 100%, and Enterococci were detected in 25%. Furthermore, EC was present in 25%, EV in 50%, and HAdV in 100% of the samples. The probability of annual infection with HAdV and EC was, in the worst situation, 100% and 1.3%, respectively. Regarding the qualitative and quantitative aspects, there was a significant positive correlation between the absence of EC and the withdrawal of water from the cistern using a pump and the opposite when the withdrawal was carried out using a bucket or hose. Based on the results found, it is important to carry out actions aimed at improving water quality and, consequently, the quality of life of people living in the study community.
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2020
Background: Water scarcity combined with high incidences of diarrhoeal disease amongst many rural communities, suggests that the provision of 'safe' water supplies remains a challenge. Subsequent reliance on multi-source water supplies means that microbial transmission pathways may be numerous and complex. Objectives: This study aimed to identify and elucidate water supply issues and potential microbial transmission pathways at the household level in rural communities in semi-arid Brazil. Methods: Community and sanitary surveys were applied to 99 households from 10 communities located in four municipalities of Paraiba State, Brazil. Moreover, physicochemical and microbial parameters were investigated throughout the water supply chain. Results: High levels of faecal indicator organisms (FIO) were detected in water from Water Storage Reservoirs (WSR) and from in-house Drinking Water Storage Containers (DWSC). A decrease in microbial water quality was observed between water stored within WSR's and DWSC's, suggesting potential cross-contamination at the household level. Several common practices were observed among rural residents, such as the use of collection buckets left unprotected outside on the ground, that may have also contributed to the observed decrease. Schematic diagrams illustrating the complex water supply chains and potential microbial transmission pathways were developed to facilitate identification of effective intervention strategies. Discussion: Decreases in water supply quality were found to be predominantly caused by cross-contamination within the domestic environment due to several factors, including, a lack of awareness and knowledge of 'safe' collection, handling and storage of water, as well as inadequate sanitation services and/or unhygienic practices. In order to improve public health in such communities, more effort should be directed towards education and training of all stakeholders involved in the water supply chain. This would, certainly, support the successful implementation of further WASH interventions, consequently increasing the likelihood of achieving reduction of excreta-borne diseases.
2020
Consumption of non-potable water is a relevant public health problem due to the possibility of transporting numerous chemical and microbiological contaminants. In 2005, the Brazilian Ministry of Health created the National Program of Surveillance in Environmental Health related to the Quality of Water for Human Consumption (VIGIAGUA), with the primary purpose of managing risks related to water supply to human populations in Brazilian territory. However, VIGIAGUA does not have a methodology capable of characterizing or managing risks. The objective of this research is to create a working model to transform raw data into conceptual data related to low-, medium-and high-risk levels. The data used in the application of the model were obtained through the analyses of water-quality surveillance conducted by the Regional Health Management of Itabira, a municipality with less than 10 thousand inhabitants, whose history of water contamination is alarming. Twelve samples/month were collected between May 2017 and April 2018. The results of the treated water analyses were classified according to the presence of hazards and categorized into risk levels. The results showed 83.3% contamination by total coliforms at the treatment plant and 91.6% in the distribution system. The Escherichia coli contamination was 16.7% in the treatment plant samples and 45.2% in the distribution system. The system was categorized as "High Risk". The analysis of untreated water samples was carried out for the purpose of knowing the contamination pattern of the raw water of the region, finding 100% contamination by total coliforms and 97.2% contamination by E. coli.
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2019
Waterborne pathogens, associated with poverty and poor sanitary conditions, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are limited data on the epidemiology of waterborne pathogens in indigenous populations living in the Amazon region. We did a cross-sectional survey in two indigenous Shuar communities in the Amazon region of Ecuador in which we documented the presence of pathogens representing different sources of environmental contamination of water. We detected protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths by microscopy of fecal samples and the presence of IgG antibodies to hepatitis A and Leptospira spp. in blood samples from individuals older than 2 years and collected data by questionnaire on sociodemographic factors and knowledge of infectious diseases. Seroprevalence for hepatitis A and Leptospira spp. were 98.1% (95% CI: 97.0-99.8) and 50.0% (95% CI: 43.3-56.6), respectively, whereas 62.6% (95% CI: 55.8-69.4) had enteric parasites in stool samples. In participants older than 6 years, eight of 10 had evidence of infection with or exposure to at least one of the pathogens studied. Although prevalence of pathogens varied by age, it did not vary significantly by gender, temporal migration, illiteracy, perceived morbidity, receipt of conditional cash transfers, water boiling practices, poor housing conditions, and anthropometric status. These findings indicate a high level of contamination of drinking water by human pathogens in these indigenous communities and the need for interventions to improve access to and use of clean drinking water in these marginalized communities.
Water and health at the household level in Eastern Lima, Peru: an urban ecosystem approach
The Sustainable City V, 2008
The rapid population increase in Lima is leading to an expansion of unplanned informal settlements that lack a number of urban services including waste management, clean water and drainage systems. Using an urban ecosystem health approach, the study sought to identify the most relevant factors that affect child health related to water at the household level in two communities in eastern Lima. Workshops, semi-structured surveys, interviews and observations were used as mechanisms to promote health awareness, education and understanding. Weekly or biweekly diarrhea surveillance was performed. Excreta samples were collected to determine the presence of parasites in children. Water samples of open hand-dug wells were collected for fecal coliforms and human parasites analysis. Hand-dug wells, used by most people as domestic water, were found to be highly contaminated with fecal matter (99% of samples). Poor sanitary practices appear to be the main reason for nearly three quarters of children being infested with human protozoa. Through participatory decision-making, the communities identified improvements in domestic water quality using filters as their priority. Community members themselves were involved in building household slowsand filters, encouraging hand washing by washtub installation, and closing the exposed wells to prevent external contamination. Education on health, environment and hygiene encouraged these behavioral changes. Slow-sand filters had a significant improvement on water quality, with a removal of up to 96.9% of fecal coliform contamination. Nevertheless, after medical treatment for protozoa removal, laboratory results showed protozoa reinfection in more than 60% of children. These results suggest the water is not the only way children become infected with human protozoa. However, 90% of families perceived that the incidence of water borne disease, especially in children, had dropped remarkably since they used the filter. An analysis of interactions between the social conditions of poor shanty town dwellers, their access to and use of domestic water, and the disease burden of children in these communities identify the use of shallow wells as an important potential source of ill-heath. Breaking this cycle through the use of simple filtering technology has had positive effects on health, especially of children.
BMC Public Health, 2016
Background: Surface water contaminated with human waste may transmit urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS). Waterrelated activities that allow skin exposure place people at risk, but public health practitioners know little about why some communities with access to improved water infrastructure have substantial surface water contact with infectious water bodies. Community-based mixed-methods research can provide critical information about water use and water infrastructure improvements. Methods: Our mixed-methods study assessed the context of water use in a rural community endemic for schistosomiasis. Results: Eighty-seven (35.2 %) households reported using river water but not borehole water; 26 (10.5 %) reported using borehole water but not river water; and 133 (53.8 %) households reported using both water sources. All households are within 1 km of borehole wells, but tested water quality was poor in most wells. Schistosomiasis is perceived by study households (89.3 %) to be a widespread problem in the community, but perceived schistosomiasis risk fails to deter households from river water usage. Hematuria prevalence among schoolchildren does not differ by household water use preference. Focus group data provides context for water preferences. Demand for improvements to water infrastructure was a persistent theme; however, roles and responsibilities with respect to addressing community water and health concerns are ill-defined. Conclusions: Collectively, our study illustrates how complex attitudes towards water resources can affect which methods will be appropriate to address schistosomiasis.
Resources and Environment, 2012
Due to the large consumption of water wells and springs in rural properties in the far west region of Santa Catarina and illnesses related to consumption of contaminated water, this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of water wells in rural properties in the far west of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Thus, this study can be used as a tool to discuss the current state of the wells that supply farms in the far west of Santa Catarina, since it is necessary to introduce orientation programs for consumers of untreated , for the most part unaware of these basic methods for maintaining the quality of drinking water. The research was conducted with Company of Agricultural Research and Rural Extension of Santa Catarina SA (EPAGRI) of Sao Miguel do Oeste, SC. We collected samples from 70 wells from 07 city in the region west of Santa Catarina from May 2011 to February 2012, and collected three samples per well evaluated in different periods. Samples were collected by technical EPAGRI of each municipality participating in the study and subsequently transported and analyzed in the Research Laboratory and Diagnostic Microbiology of the University of West of Santa Catarina. Towards assess the quality of water was used for faecal technique for Multiple Tube Fermentation and heterotrophic bacterial count technique pour plate with standard agar for count established by the Normative Instruction No. 62, August 26, 2003 the Ministry of Agriculture , Livestock and Supply. In the laboratory, were applied to wells of a user questionnaire for their perception of water quality. Of the 70 wells analysed, 67 (95.71%) were considered unsuitable for human consumption, according Decree in 2914 to 12 December 2011 the ministry of health. The average amount of total coliform samples found unsuitable (199 samples from 67 wells) was 366.09 MPN / 100 ml, ranging from 265.98 to 527.1 MPN /100 mL. Since the average amount of faecal coliform found in these samples (those considered unfit) was 62. 34 MPN /100 mL ranging from 12.73 to 105.5 MPN /100 mL. For the average score heterotrophic microorganisms in the samples was unsuitable 1386 CFU / ml, ranging from 836 to 2234 CFU / ml. Although the data found in laboratory tests, the questionnaires showed that 82.88% of owners who use water classified as good or excellent quality, and less than half (42.84%) filter or boil water before consuming it .Thus, we can see that it is extremely important that preventive measures are taken for the preservation of the sources and improving water quality in the region, since most water wells are unfit for human consumption and which further aggravates these results is the users' perception about the quality, which contributes to the lack of concern with basic care to avoid such a problem.
American Journal of Human Biology, 2019
Objectives: The Galápagos provides an important setting to investigate the health impacts of a new drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) in a limited resource environment. We examine how household perceptions and practices affect the relationship between water quality and infections before and after DWTP. Methods: Ethnographic data and self-reported infections were collected from 121 mothers and 168 children ages 2 to 10 from Isla San Cristóbal. Household tap water samples were tested for levels of fecal contamination. Community level infection rates were estimated using discharge records from the Ministry of Public Health. The effects of the new DWTP and fecal contamination levels on infections were tested using logistic and Poisson models. Results: Perceptions of water quality and household practices influenced exposures to contaminated tap water. We found minimal change in drinking water sources with 85% of mothers sampled before the DWTP and 83% sampled after using bottled water, while >85% from the pooled sample used tap water for cooking and hygiene practices. The DWTP opening was associated with lower odds of fecal contamination in tap water, reported urinary infections, and community level rates of urinary and gastrointestinal infections. The household practice of recently washing the cistern contributed to higher contamination levels after the DWTP opened.