Contribution of Wastewater Irrigation to Soil Transmitted Helminths Infection among Vegetable Farmers in Kumasi, Ghana

dc.contributor.authorAmoah Isaac Dennis
dc.contributor.authorAbubakari Amina
dc.contributor.authorStenstro¨m Thor Axel
dc.contributor.authorAbaidoo R. C
dc.contributor.authorSeidu Razak
dc.date.accessioned2023-12-07T15:46:31Z
dc.date.available2023-12-07T15:46:31Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.descriptionThis article is published by Plos One, 2022 and is also available at DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005161
dc.description.abstractWastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health risks. The health risk for contracting infections from Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) among farmers has mainly been assessed indirectly through measured quantities in the wastewater or on the crops alone and only on a limited scale through epidemiological assessments. In this study we broadened the concept of infection risks in the exposure assessments by measurements of the concentration of STHs both in wastewater used for irrigation and the soil, as well as the actual load of STHs ova in the stool of farmers and their family members (165 and 127 in the wet and dry seasons respectively) and a control group of non-farmers (100 and 52 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Odds ratios were cal culated for exposure and non-exposure to wastewater irrigation. The results obtained indi cate positive correlation between STH concentrations in irrigation water/soil and STHs ova as measured in the stool of the exposed farmer population. The correlations are based on reinfection during a 3 months period after prior confirmed deworming. Farmers and family members exposed to irrigation water were three times more likely as compared to the con trol group of non-farmers to be infected with Ascaris (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.15–13.86) and hookworm (OR = 3.07, 95% CI, 0.87–10.82). This study therefore contributes to the evi dence-based conclusion that wastewater irrigation contributes to a higher incidence of STHs infection for farmers exposed annually, with higher odds of infection in the wet season.
dc.description.sponsorshipKNUST
dc.identifier.citationPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2022
dc.identifier.uri10.1371/journal.pntd.0005161
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.knust.edu.gh/handle/123456789/14716
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPlos One
dc.titleContribution of Wastewater Irrigation to Soil Transmitted Helminths Infection among Vegetable Farmers in Kumasi, Ghana
dc.typeArticle
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