Characteristics of latrines in central Tanzania and their relation to fly catches

The disposal of human excreta in latrines is an important step in reducing the transmission of diarrhoeal diseases. However, in latrines, flies can access the latrine contents and serve as a mechanical transmitter of diarrhoeal pathogens. Furthermore, the latrine contents can be used as a breeding s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2013-07, Vol.8 (7), p.e67951
Main Authors: Irish, Seth, Aiemjoy, Kristen, Torondel, Belen, Abdelahi, Faraji, Ensink, Jeroen H J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blowflies
Breeding
Breeding sites
Chemical oxygen demand
Construction materials
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - prevention & control
Diptera - physiology
Disease transmission
Environmental health
Flies
Humans
Hygiene
Infectious diseases
Insecticides
Larva - physiology
Larvae
Latrines
Medicine
Pathogens
Psychoda
Regression Analysis
Rural areas
Specimen Handling - methods
Studies
Superstructures
Tanzania
Toilet Facilities - standards
Toilet Facilities - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:The disposal of human excreta in latrines is an important step in reducing the transmission of diarrhoeal diseases. However, in latrines, flies can access the latrine contents and serve as a mechanical transmitter of diarrhoeal pathogens. Furthermore, the latrine contents can be used as a breeding site for flies, which may further contribute to disease transmission. Latrines do not all produce flies, and there are some which produce only a few, while others can produce thousands. In order to understand the role of the latrine in determining this productivity, a pilot study was conducted, in which fifty latrines were observed in and around Ifakara, Tanzania. The characteristics of the latrine superstructure, use of the latrine, and chemical characteristics of pit latrine contents were compared to the numbers of flies collected in an exit trap placed over the drop hole in the latrine. Absence of a roof was found to have a significant positive association (t=3.17, p=0.003) with the total number of flies collected, and temporary superstructures, particularly as opposed to brick superstructures (z=4.26, p
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0067951