Epidemiological Studies of Waterborne Diseases in Relation to Bacteriological Quality of Water

Abstract

Aim of the Study: Waterborne diseases are global burden with the increase in a number of cases more especially in rural areas of developing countries. We investigated the epidemiological distribution of waterborne diseases and bacteriological quality of water in Bodinga Sokoto Nigeria. Research Design: The study used a retrospective design and determined the prevalence of some selected waterborne diseases and sanitary inspection. An experimental design was used for the determination of bacterial pollution in some water sources. Place and Duration: The study was conducted at the General Hospital Bodinga and Department of Microbiology Sokoto State University within the period of one year. Methods: A retrospective data of health records were collected from an out-patient register in Bodinga General Hospital, covered a period of three years from January to December (2015 -2017). A number of samples of water were collected from different sources in Bodinga, Danchadi, and Takatuku and were analyzed using the standard method. Results: We found the most common waterborne diseases in the area are dysentery, 517(40.7%) typhoid 375(29.5%), gastroenteritis 202(15.9%) and diarrhoea 105(8.3%), while skin infection and cholera account for 36(2.8%) each. We observed that the diseases are widely distributed in the rainy season with high occurrence of 732(57.59%) cases than a dry season having 539(42.41%) cases. Male are more prone to diseases with 706 cases than female having 565 cases and 25-above years, as well as Children below the age of 5, are more vulnerable to diseases with the occurrence of 481 and 331 respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests a possible strong relationship between waterborne diseases and poor water quality which contributed to the spread of diseases in the study area.