Description
Abstract
Introduction - Objectives:
The One Health approach is a multidisciplinary and integrated one that aims to sustainably balance and optimize health of people, animals and ecosystems. Pathogen development and transmission occurs through climatic conditions, water pollution, agriculture, hygiene and organic matter decomposition. Human interference with animals and ecosystems can cause numerous infections creating hotspot for health outbreaks. This study was conducted in 2022 to investigate the socioeconomic of environnemental factors involved in diarrhoea-related diseases in Akonolinga, Cameroon.
Methodology:
With the help of structured questionnaires, face-to-face interviews were conducted by a multidisciplinary team of masters' students from France and Cameroon institutions during a field school called One Health Water Africa (OHWA). A total of 134 households in 6 villages and 3 hamlets were surveyed and 122 water samples were collected using Aquagenx quality field test kits. These localities were selected based on the presence of a water collection point that serves as a means for household interactions with the environment and economic activities to the population. The analytical method incorporated the use of two multivariate logistic regressions with the help of R version 4.2.2.
Results and Discussions:
Results showed that the main economic activities were agriculture and fishing and these highly influence health and access to medical services. About 49% of overall households used basic drinking water facilities while 34% had limited ones. Approximately 74% had a hand washing facility with soap and water but 98% had an unimproved service level of sanitation. For diarrhoea, 24% of the respondents reported not to know the cause while 42% had at least one household member who witnessed symptoms. The environmental risk factors associated with these symptoms were farming, fishing, family size of 5 to 10 people and availability of drinking water. Of all the water samples collected, 77% contained Coliforms and a titer of nitrates greater than 50 was found in unprotected dugs and protected springs of 2 villages namely Nkolessong and Bikele.
Conclusions:
It is therefore imperative to improve economic conditions of the studied populations to reduce the diarrheal cases. Behavioural patterns of water usage and portability exposing households should be tackled correctly using community inclusion techniques like Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). With local community engagement, the provision of medical infrastructures, extension services and the diversification of revenue streams through the implementation of development projects will better the quality of life, promote healthy, safe communities and environments.
Keywords: Environmental Factors, Diarrhoea-related Diseases, One Health
Acknowledgements:
We express our profound gratitude to our partners; University of Corsica Pascal Paoli (France), University of Buea, University of Douala and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement France (IRD). Appreciation equally goes to the local government officials, our research team and the population of Akonolinga.
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