Polio, jaundice, typhoid, cholera and dysentery are but a few of the diseases caused by contact with human fecal material.
Title | Pathogen overload in Bangladesh |
Publication Type | Conference Paper |
Year of Publication | 1991 |
Authors | Dodge, CP |
Pagination | P. 197-200: 5 fig. |
Date Published | 1991-01-01 |
Keywords | bangladesh, diarrhoeal diseases, health education, latrines, tube wells, use of facilities |
Abstract | Polio, jaundice, typhoid, cholera and dysentery are but a few of the diseases caused by contact with human fecal material. Bangladesh, a densely populated land, has as its greatest environmental threat exposure to human faeces\AB due to poor sanitation and overpopulation. Eighty percent of the rural population has access to safe drinking water, but only six percent use a sanitary latrine. The most common latrine in Bangladesh is the hanging latrine,\AB that empties directly into surface water with the intention that the water will carry the excrement away, while in fact it only spreads the pollution. The majority of mothers are aware that polluted water causes diarrhea, but\AB they do not associate diarrhea with fecal pollution. The hanging latrine is simpler to build than the more hygienic sanitary latrine. Donors, UNICEF and the Bangladesh government are making efforts to improve sanitary latrine\AB coverage by increasing production and by linking latrine construction to tubewell allocations. Latrines are also available from private sector vendors. Small modifications were made to the latrine to lower cost. Varied groups\AB were targeted to be sanitation promoters, such as Islam religious leaders, teachers, extension workers and others. |
Notes | 5 ref. |
Custom 1 | 303, 822 |