The transmission dynamics of the cholera epidemic in Kasese district, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Cholera is still a big public health problem in the Kasese District of Uganda, which deserves effective intervention for a free and safe society. Objectives: to survey the transmission dynamics of cholera epidemics in the endemic Kasese District of Uganda. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 240 adult participants (quantitative data) with a history of cholera and 7 key informants (qualitative data). SPSS conducted the analysis using multivariate linear regression and chi-square at the bivariate level. Statistical significance was assessed using p (< 0.05). Results. The dynamics of the cholera epidemic were defined by environmental factors, effectiveness of existing interventions such as Cholera epidemic Task Force; Cholera Treatment Centers; Health education campaigns; and Village Community meetings about cholera. The poor uptake of cholera intervention programs and other factors support this. There are still gaps in the uptake of cholera control interventions in Kasese District manifested by the laxity of the District’s Cholera epidemic Task Force; inadequate disinfection and cholera treatment kits in the Cholera epidemic Treatment Centers; low PHC funds and low listenership to media campaigns for health education about cholera; and finally, rare and poorly attended village community meetings on cholera, which influenced the spread and development of cholera outbreaks in Kasese District. Conclusions and recommendations cholera epidemic in Kasese District was mainly induced by the consumption of cholera contaminated food and water. The interventions existing in the district are ineffective and inefficient, probably due to gaps in the uptake of existing cholera cholera epidemic control interventions. District Health Offices should therefore strengthen health education and promotion about cholera; through a case-control study that will give more focus on the importance of the factors contributing to cholera in Kasese District.