A study among 254 children aged 12-24 months in rural South Africa and Zimbabwe assesses risk factors for child dysentery and watery diarrhoea in households where drinking water was collected from communal sources [1]. For dysentery, drinking water from sources other than standpipes had a relative risk ratio of 3.8 (95% CI 1.5-9.8). Poor source water quality, as indicated by Escherichia coli counts of 10 or more colony-forming units 100 ml-1, increased risk by 2.9 (1.5-5.7). There were no other significant risk factors for dysentery and none for watery diarrhoea. Endemic dysentery is associated only with faecal contamination of source water. Sources other than standpipes, including improved groundwater, are of greater risk.

[1] Gundry, S.W. … [et al.] (2009). Child dysentery in the Limpopo Valley : a cohort study of water, sanitation and hygiene risk factors, Journal of water and health ; vol. 07, no. 2 ; p. 259-266. doi:10.2166/wh.2009.032

Contact: Prof. Stephen W. Gundry, Water and Health Research Centre, University of Bristol, UK, stephen.gundry@bristol.ac.uk

Tags: africa, water quality, water-related diseases