Pattern of Waterborne Diseases in Yenagoa, Nigeria

Abstract

Waterborne diseases have negative implications on the health and socioeconomic activities of man. This paper analyzed the prevalence pattern of diarrhea and typhoid (DT) in Yenagoa. The study used data derived from responses to administered questionnaire on household’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and retrospective hospital data on recorded cases of DT in Yenagoa. Obtained data were analyzed with tables, percentages, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and T-test. The analyses showed that household’s WASH provisions in Yenagoa were unsatisfactory and may have contributed to the incidence of both diseases. Those mostly impacted by both diseases were five years and below; while the dry season recorded higher cases, when safe water supply was more challenging. The ANOVA test showed that the monthly incidence of both DT do not significantly vary, as the calculated F-value for diarrhea was 6.865, p-value, .135; while that for typhoid was, .590, p-value, .842 at 0.05 alpha levels. However, the age and seasonal incidence of both DT varied significantly in Yenagoa. The ANOVA test for age distribution of diarrhea was F= 5.483 and p-value, .024; while that of typhoid was F= 6.038 and p-value was .019 at 0.05 alpha levels. Similarly, the t-test for seasonal incidence of diarrhea was t =4.836 and p-value, .005; while that of typhoid was t = 4.468 and p-value, .007 at 0.05 alpha levels. Therefore, households should have unrestricted access to adequate WASH services, which act as primary barriers to the spread of DT diseases.