title: [Factors associated with the quality of well water and the prevalence of waterborne diseases in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi in Benin].
abstract: The objective of this work is to assess the factors associated with the water quality of household wells, suggest solutions to improve it, and study the prevalence of water-borne diseases in this community. The quality of well water and the prevalence of waterborne diseases in the municipality were studied by analysis of the microbiological indicators currently used to assess drinking-water quality and the retrospective study of waterborne diseases treated in the local health centres. The wells surveyed were contaminated by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Clostridium perfringens and fecal streptococci, at prevalences of 12.5, 12.2, 12.2, 12.1, 12 and 11.1%, respectively. The high rates of diarrhea, urinary infections, typhoid fever and abdominal pain found in the retrospective study were consistent with the results of the well-water quality assessment. These results showed that human activity has strongly influenced water quality, especially the lack of sanitation in the different districts and neighbourhoods. Other factors affecting the vulnerability of well water include poor waste management by households, the low depth of the water table, the nature of the soil, and the permeability of the aquifer used. Improvement in water quality, sanitation, and personal hygiene will make it possible to reduce considerably the propagation of these diseases and several others. It is therefore important to provide these populations with the necessary equipment for an adequate drinking water supply, but also to promote health education to avoid water pollution. The search for solutions to these problems will lead to a plan for future action.
authors.affiliation: Université libre de Bruxelles, Unité de santé au travail et de toxicologie du milieu, Bruxelles, Belgique. comlancy@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Cyriaque
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Degbey
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makoutode
authors.forename: Victoire
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agueh
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dramaix
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water