Helminth transmission in simple pit latrines

Simple pit latrines often represent the cheapest form of sanitation for poor communities. However, simple latrines lack a concrete slab and are therefore classified as an unimproved form of sanitation. This study collected soil samples in simple pit latrines and analysed them for the presence of hel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2012-11, Vol.106 (11), p.709-710
Main Authors: Baker, Sarah M., Ensink, Jeroen H.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Colony Count, Microbial
Environmental Monitoring
Feces - microbiology
Feces - parasitology
General aspects
Humans
Hygiene
Medical sciences
Parasite Egg Count
Pit latrines
Poverty
Sanitation
Sanitation - standards
Soil-transmitted helminths
Surface Properties
Tanzania
Tanzania - epidemiology
Toilet Facilities
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Summary:Simple pit latrines often represent the cheapest form of sanitation for poor communities. However, simple latrines lack a concrete slab and are therefore classified as an unimproved form of sanitation. This study collected soil samples in simple pit latrines and analysed them for the presence of helminth eggs; 71% of all collected samples were positive for eggs. The absence of a roof from the latrine was the only factor associated with lower egg concentrations. The findings support the classification of simple pit latrines as an unimproved form of sanitation.
ISSN:0035-9203
1878-3503
DOI:10.1016/j.trstmh.2012.08.002