Water, livelihood and health in attapeu province in Lao PDR

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation on water-borne infectious disease conducted among the people of Attapeu province from 2003 to 2008. Regardless of the last cholera epidemic in Attapeu province, Lao PDR in the year 1999, the local peoples' awareness of cholera was remarkably low, as demonstrated by the knowledge survey on diarrheal diseases performed in the province in 2006. In the case study material, derived from continuous field observations on malaria among permanent residents in relocated villages in Sanxay district from 2004 to 2008, the infection rate among febrile cases was as high as 45% in the early resettlement period, while it was proved that the rate fell later to 1.9-14% Judging from the environmental condition of this settlement area, this paper makes clear the persistent threat of malaria. Furthermore, among the villagers, hookworm infection was highly prevalent. However, liver fluke infections were scarce and no ascariasis was found from parasitic stool examination in 2007. Water quality analysis of the water sources resulted in remarkably safe water from tube wells from 2003 to 2008.