Investigation on Risk Factors Influencing Cholera Outbreaks: A Case of Buguruni Ward in Ilala Municipality Dar es Salaam

The Buguruni ward, within Ilala Municipality has been experiencing highest rate and frequency of Cholera outbreaks than any other ward within the Ilala Municipality. The objective of this study was; to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices associated with cholera outbreak in the ward. A case study approach was adopted, with purposive random sampling used to select 120 respondents from all administrative streets. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain community’s opinion; this was also supplemented by focus group discussion and participants’ observation. Statistical Package for Social Sciences soft ware version 16 was used to generate descriptive statistics which were further summarized into pie charts and tables. Results indicate that the study population (52%) had little awareness on means or causes of the disease and the way the disease can be communicated between individuals and across communities. It was also found out that community practiced several risk behaviors including; not preferring treated water (72%), consumption of locally made fruit juices (34.5%) sold by street vendors across the ward. Other risk behaviors were related to presence of rudimentary waste disposal system thus rendering most of the wastes on open spaces and at home. The study concludes that residents in Buguruni ward remain under high risk of Cholera outbreak, thus worth to recommend institutional and community hygiene measures to be taken sustainably so as to prevent re-occurrence of Cholera in the ward.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University of Tanzania

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Mghase, Janeth Libent

• 610 Medical sciences; Medicine

Language dc:language

en