Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ISSN
1660-4601
Volume
16
Issue
13
PubMed ID
31284613
Publisher
MDPI
School
Centre for Ecosystem Management
RAS ID
31320
Funders
The work was conducted while the senior author was in receipt of an Australian Postgraduate Research Award, and while Horwitz and Jupiter were in receipt of a collaborative Developmental Research Grant (G1001474) from Edith Cowan University andWildlife Conservation Society. Additional financial support was provided via the Coalition against Typhoid through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [grant number OPP1017518].
Abstract
Proximal characteristics and conditions in the residential setting deserve greater attention for their potential to influence typhoid transmission. Using a case-control design in Central Division, Republic of Fiji, we examined bacterial (coliform and Escherichia coli) contamination and chemical composition of water and soil as potential vehicles of exposure to Salmonella Typhi, combining observational analysis of residential living conditions, geospatial analysis of household locations, and factor analysis to explore multivariate associations with the risk of developing typhoid fever. Factors positively associated with typhoid infection related to drainage [phosphate (OR 4.235, p = 0.042) and E. coli concentrations (OR 2.248, p = 0.029) in toilet drainage soil, housing [external condition (OR 3.712, p < 0.001)], drinking water contamination (OR 2.732, p = 0.003) and sanitary condition (OR 1.973, p = 0.031). These five factors explained 42.5% of the cumulative variance and were significant in predicting typhoid infection. Our results support the hypothesis that a combination of spatial and biophysical attributes of the residential setting influence the probability of typhoid transmission; in this study, factors associated with poor drainage, flooding, and sanitary condition increase local exposure to contaminated water and soil, and thereby infection. These findings extend testing of causal assumptions beyond the immediate domestic domain, enhance the scope of traditional case control epidemiology and allow greater specificity of interventions at the scale of the residential setting.
DOI
10.3390/ijerph16132407
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Jenkins, A. P., Jupiter, S. D., Jenney, A., Rosa, V., Naucukidi, A., Prasad, N., ... Horwitz, P. (2019). Environmental foundations of typhoid fever in the Fijian residential setting. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), Article 2407. Available here