Cross-sectional epidemiological study on water and sanitation practices in the northern region of Ghana

Abstract

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted to obtain baseline data on drinking water and sanitation practices in the Northern Region of Ghana. This study was performed in conjunction with Pure Home Water (PHW) which aims to provide safe drinking water to the Northern Region of Ghana by selling household water treatment and safe storage devices as a sustainable business. Currently ceramic filters constitute PHW's major sales. In the study, fifty households were surveyed, including both homes that had and had not purchased the PHW products in order to obtain baseline data and product feedback. Targeted participants were mothers of the households with children under five. At each household, drinking water samples were collected and analyzed for bacterial contamination with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and membrane filtration testing techniques. This data is analyzed as an epidemiological cross-sectional study and basic risk assessment. In general, the surveys were well received within the communities, resulting in 100% participation. The product users responded positively to the PHW technologies, with 93% of customers still using the products within six months of purchase.

(cont.) From the overall survey results, there is a great need for safe water and sanitation in the Northern Region of Ghana, with 36% of respondents not having access to an improved water source, and 54% not having access to an improved sanitation facility. In the rural traditional communities, households were more likely to suffer from diarrheal illness, lack improved drinking water, and lack sanitation facilities. A variety of factors were compared in analysis, such as community type, district, diarrheal illness, and ownership of the PHW products.