Direct observation of hygiene in a Peruvian shantytown: not enough handwashing and too little water.
Trop Med Int Health
; 13(11): 1421-8, 2008 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19055623
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To document frequency of hygiene practices of mothers and children in a shantytown in Lima, Peru.METHODS:
Continuous monitoring over three 12-h sessions in households without in-house water connections tomeasure:
(i) water and soap use of 32 mothers; (ii) frequency of interrupting faecal-hand contamination by washing; and (iii) the time until faecal-hand contamination became a possible transmission event.RESULTS:
During 1008 h of observation, 55% (65/119) of mothers' and 69% (37/54) of children's faecal-hand contamination events were not followed within 15 min by handwashing or bathing. Nearly 40% (67/173) of faecal-hand contamination events became possible faecal-oral transmission events. There was no difference in the time-until-transmission between mothers and children (P = 0.43). Potential transmission of faecal material to food or mouth occurred in 64% of cases within 1 h of hand contamination. Mean water usage (6.5 l) was low compared to international disaster relief standards.CONCLUSIONS:
We observed low volumes of water usage, inadequate handwashing, and frequent opportunities for faecal contamination and possible transmission in this water-scarce community.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Abastecimento de Água
/
Desinfecção das Mãos
/
Higiene
/
Diarreia
/
Fezes
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Peru
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article