An assessment of latrine front-end characteristics and associated surface E. coli indicated faecal contamination in rural Fiji.

Adhikari, S; Anthony, S; Baleinamau, P; Coriakula, J; Daurewa, T; Devi, R; Gavidi, S; Horwitz, P; Hunter, EC; Jenkins, A; Jupiter, S; Lalamacuata, M; Mailautoka, K; Mangubhai, S; Naivalu, K; Naivalulevu, T; Naivalulevu, V; Nasim, N; Naucunivanua, S; Negin, J; van Nimwegen, P; Ratu, A; Ravoka, M; Tukana, A; van de Vossenberg, J; Wilson, D; Thomas, J

An assessment of latrine front-end characteristics and associated surface E. coli indicated faecal contamination in rural Fiji.

Adhikari, S Anthony, S Baleinamau, P Coriakula, J Daurewa, T Devi, R Gavidi, S Horwitz, P Hunter, EC Jenkins, A Jupiter, S Lalamacuata, M Mailautoka, K Mangubhai, S Naivalu, K Naivalulevu, T Naivalulevu, V Nasim, N

Naucunivanua, S Negin, J van Nimwegen, P Ratu, A Ravoka, M Tukana, A van de Vossenberg, J Wilson, D Thomas, J

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024, 31, (40), pp. 52948-52962
Issue Date:: 2024-08

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Adhikari, S
dc.contributor.author	Anthony, S
dc.contributor.author	Baleinamau, P
dc.contributor.author	Coriakula, J
dc.contributor.author	Daurewa, T
dc.contributor.author	Devi, R
dc.contributor.author	Gavidi, S
dc.contributor.author	Horwitz, P
dc.contributor.author	Hunter, EC
dc.contributor.author	Jenkins, A
dc.contributor.author	Jupiter, S
dc.contributor.author	Lalamacuata, M
dc.contributor.author	Mailautoka, K
dc.contributor.author	Mangubhai, S
dc.contributor.author	Naivalu, K
dc.contributor.author	Naivalulevu, T
dc.contributor.author	Naivalulevu, V
dc.contributor.author	Nasim, N https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6965-8511
dc.contributor.author	Naucunivanua, S
dc.contributor.author	Negin, J
dc.contributor.author	van Nimwegen, P
dc.contributor.author	Ratu, A
dc.contributor.author	Ravoka, M
dc.contributor.author	Tukana, A
dc.contributor.author	van de Vossenberg, J
dc.contributor.author	Wilson, D
dc.contributor.author	Thomas, J
dc.date.accessioned	2024-10-09T01:11:25Z
dc.date.available	2024-08-05
dc.date.available	2024-10-09T01:11:25Z
dc.date.issued	2024-08
dc.identifier.citation	Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024, 31, (40), pp. 52948-52962
dc.identifier.issn	0944-1344
dc.identifier.issn	1614-7499
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181288
dc.description.abstract	In Fiji, 90% of the population has access to basic sanitation; however, there are still persistent health risks from endemic faecal-oral diseases such as typhoid fever. There is a need to assess the contribution of existing sanitation facilities in the faecal pathogen transmission pathway. This study was conducted as part of a larger planetary health study across 29 rural communities within five river catchments. This specific research aimed to characterise latrine front-ends, both infrastructure and usage behaviour, and to assess the faecal contamination levels on various frequently contacted latrine surfaces in rural Fiji. A sanitation survey, along with observation and latrine swab sampling, was conducted in households over three phases: baseline (n = 311) (Aug-Dec 2019), endline (n = 262) (Jun-Sep 2022) and an in-depth front-end study (n = 12) (Oct-Nov 2022). Of 311 households, almost all had pedestal-type latrines, predominately cistern-flush (83%), followed by pour-flush (13%), and then hole-type (pit) latrines (4%). Washable latrine floors had significantly higher E. coli densities (6.7 × 102 CFU/25 cm2) compared to non-washable floors (1.3 × 102 CFU/25 cm2) (p = 0.05), despite washable floors indicating improved latrines. The in-depth front-end analysis found that moist latrine surfaces had significantly elevated E. coli densities (1.2 × 103 CFU/25 cm2) compared to the dry ones (14.3 CFU/25 cm2) (p < 0.001), highlighting the importance of maintaining dry latrine surfaces. Latrine floors and mid-walls were the most frequently contaminated surfaces, emphasising the need to clean and disinfect these surfaces. Only 46% of the households reported always using soap for handwashing after defecation, exacerbating the risk of transmitting faecal pathogens. This study highlights that latrine cleanliness and hygiene are as crucial as latrine infrastructures for the effective disruption of faecal pathogens transmission during latrine use.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s11356-024-34668-x
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	03 Chemical Sciences, 05 Environmental Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.subject.mesh	Toilet Facilities
dc.subject.mesh	Fiji
dc.subject.mesh	Feces
dc.subject.mesh	Rural Population
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Escherichia coli
dc.subject.mesh	Sanitation
dc.subject.mesh	Family Characteristics
dc.subject.mesh	Feces
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Escherichia coli
dc.subject.mesh	Family Characteristics
dc.subject.mesh	Sanitation
dc.subject.mesh	Toilet Facilities
dc.subject.mesh	Rural Population
dc.subject.mesh	Fiji
dc.title	An assessment of latrine front-end characteristics and associated surface E. coli indicated faecal contamination in rural Fiji.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	31
utslib.location.activity	Germany
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-10-09T01:11:18Z
pubs.issue	40
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	31
utslib.citation.issue	40

Abstract:

In Fiji, 90% of the population has access to basic sanitation; however, there are still persistent health risks from endemic faecal-oral diseases such as typhoid fever. There is a need to assess the contribution of existing sanitation facilities in the faecal pathogen transmission pathway. This study was conducted as part of a larger planetary health study across 29 rural communities within five river catchments. This specific research aimed to characterise latrine front-ends, both infrastructure and usage behaviour, and to assess the faecal contamination levels on various frequently contacted latrine surfaces in rural Fiji. A sanitation survey, along with observation and latrine swab sampling, was conducted in households over three phases: baseline (n = 311) (Aug-Dec 2019), endline (n = 262) (Jun-Sep 2022) and an in-depth front-end study (n = 12) (Oct-Nov 2022). Of 311 households, almost all had pedestal-type latrines, predominately cistern-flush (83%), followed by pour-flush (13%), and then hole-type (pit) latrines (4%). Washable latrine floors had significantly higher E. coli densities (6.7 × 102 CFU/25 cm2) compared to non-washable floors (1.3 × 102 CFU/25 cm2) (p = 0.05), despite washable floors indicating improved latrines. The in-depth front-end analysis found that moist latrine surfaces had significantly elevated E. coli densities (1.2 × 103 CFU/25 cm2) compared to the dry ones (14.3 CFU/25 cm2) (p < 0.001), highlighting the importance of maintaining dry latrine surfaces. Latrine floors and mid-walls were the most frequently contaminated surfaces, emphasising the need to clean and disinfect these surfaces. Only 46% of the households reported always using soap for handwashing after defecation, exacerbating the risk of transmitting faecal pathogens. This study highlights that latrine cleanliness and hygiene are as crucial as latrine infrastructures for the effective disruption of faecal pathogens transmission during latrine use.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181288