31 research outputs found
Comparative Analysis of the RADWQ Report and Academic Literature on the Quality of Water in Nigeria.
This paper compares analyses of water quality in Nigeria presented in the academic literature with that reported by the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in the Rapid Assessment of Drinking Water Quality (RADWQ) programme. Bibliographic and grey literature databases were used to identify studies of microbial and physicochemical water quality in Nigeria. We screened 521 study abstracts and identified 90 relevant studies based on 11,648 water samples. For each relevant study, we recorded the number of water samples, the location/hydrological areas and the water source that was analysed. The percentage compliance for the academic literature with the WHO guideline for each of these parameters was obtained and compared to the RADWQs result. We then analysed these results with the same method used for the RADWQ report to compare results from both studies. We found little variation in physicochemical results between the two studies, but a large difference between the identified microbial properties. The overall national average compliance with the WHO guideline value for the academic literature is 53.37%, while that for RADWQ project was 73%. These disparities could be attributed to the huge difference in the total number of water samples analysed, the high level of contamination in the water samples and most notably, the non-representativeness of the water samples in the hydrological areas. Keyword: water quality, microbial properties, physicochemical properties, WHO RADW
A Review of Changing Episode Definitions and Their Effects on Estimates of Diarrhoeal Morbidity
This paper describes how the methodology used for measuring diarrhoeal
morbidity has changed over time and assesses how differences in episode
definition have affected estimates of diarrhoeal morbidity among
children aged less than five years. The episode definition used in 73
studies included in three previously-published literature reviews was
identified. In earlier work, a method was developed that adjusts
morbidity estimates to take account of differences in episode
definition. This adjustment method was applied to the studies
identified in these three literature reviews. Episode definitions were
better documented and were more consistent in studies published after
1980. Adjusting morbidity estimates to account for definitional
differences did not substantially alter the reviews\u2019 conclusions.
Diarrhoeal surveillance has steadily improved since 1980, with
methodology becoming more consistent between studies and better
documented. Although episode definitions have changed over time, the
morbidity estimates derived in the three reviews appear robust to these
changes
Evaluation of an Inexpensive Growth Medium for Direct Detection of Escherichia coli in Temperate and Sub-Tropical Waters
The cost and complexity of traditional methods for the detection of faecal indicator bacteria,
including E. coli, hinder widespread monitoring of drinking water quality, especially in lowincome
countries and outside controlled laboratory settings. In these settings the problem is
exacerbated by the lack of inexpensive media for the detection of E. coli in drinking water.
We developed a new low-cost growth medium, aquatest (AT), and validated its use for the
direct detection of E. coli in temperate and sub-tropical drinking waters using IDEXX QuantiTray1.
AT was compared with IDEXX Colilert-181 and either EC-MUG or MLSB for detecting
low levels of E. coli from water samples from temperate (n = 140; Bristol, UK) and subtropical
regions (n = 50, Pretoria/Tshwane, South Africa). Confirmatory testing (n = 418 and
588, respectively) and the comparison of quantitative results were used to assess performance.
Sensitivity of AT was higher than Colilert-181 for water samples in the UK [98.0%
vs. 86.9%; p<0.0001] and South Africa [99.5% vs. 93.2%; p = 0.0030]. There was no significant
difference in specificity, which was high for both media (>95% in both settings). Quantitative
results were comparable and within expected limits. AT is reliable and accurate for
the detection of E. coli in temperate and subtropical drinking water. The composition of the
new medium is reported herein and can be used freely
Evaluation of an Inexpensive Growth Medium for Direct Detection of Escherichia coli in Temperate and Sub-Tropical Waters
The cost and complexity of traditional methods for the detection of faecal indicator bacteria, including E. coli, hinder widespread monitoring of drinking water quality, especially in low-income countries and outside controlled laboratory settings. In these settings the problem is exacerbated by the lack of inexpensive media for the detection of E. coli in drinking water. We developed a new low-cost growth medium, aquatest (AT), and validated its use for the direct detection of E. coli in temperate and sub-tropical drinking waters using IDEXX Quanti-Tray®. AT was compared with IDEXX Colilert-18® and either EC-MUG or MLSB for detecting low levels of E. coli from water samples from temperate (n = 140; Bristol, UK) and subtropical regions (n = 50, Pretoria/Tshwane, South Africa). Confirmatory testing (n = 418 and 588, respectively) and the comparison of quantitative results were used to assess performance. Sensitivity of AT was higher than Colilert-18® for water samples in the UK [98.0% vs. 86.9%; p95% in both settings). Quantitative results were comparable and within expected limits. AT is reliable and accurate for the detection of E. coli in temperate and subtropical drinking water. The composition of the new medium is reported herein and can be used freely
Household characteristics associated with home water treatment: an analysis of the Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey
Objectives: The objective of this study is to understand the characteristics of households who treat their water in the home. In promoting home water treatment, there may be valuable
lessons to be learnt from countries with many home water treatment users.
Methods: Responses to the new Demographic and Health Survey question on water treatment were analysed for 21,972 Egyptian households interviewed during 2005. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between home water treatment and household characteristics.
Results: 5.9% (CI 5.2–6.7%) of households used home water treatment, mostly either home filtration or letting water stand to settle. Filtration use was significantly related to educational
attainment and wealth, whilst letting water stand to settle was related to use of stoneware water vessels, groundwater sources, and water supply disruptions.
Discussion: The Egyptian data suggest that 4.5 million people use home water treatment and confirm some water handling behaviours reported elsewhere. Because of limited detail in the
DHS data about the technologies used and their effectiveness, it is unclear whether this behaviour reduces waterborne disease. Further research should consider how such data can be augmented with additional information to address this question
A Review of Changing Episode Definitions and Their Effects on Estimates of Diarrhoeal Morbidity
This paper describes how the methodology used for measuring diarrhoeal
morbidity has changed over time and assesses how differences in episode
definition have affected estimates of diarrhoeal morbidity among
children aged less than five years. The episode definition used in 73
studies included in three previously-published literature reviews was
identified. In earlier work, a method was developed that adjusts
morbidity estimates to take account of differences in episode
definition. This adjustment method was applied to the studies
identified in these three literature reviews. Episode definitions were
better documented and were more consistent in studies published after
1980. Adjusting morbidity estimates to account for definitional
differences did not substantially alter the reviews’ conclusions.
Diarrhoeal surveillance has steadily improved since 1980, with
methodology becoming more consistent between studies and better
documented. Although episode definitions have changed over time, the
morbidity estimates derived in the three reviews appear robust to these
changes