Intestinal parasitosis and use of untreated wastewater for agriculture in Settat, Morocco

• Published in: Eastern Mediterranean health journal Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 1435
• Main Authors: El Kettani, S, Azzouzi, E, Boukachabine, K, El Yamani, M, Maata, A, Rajaoui, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Egypt 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - diagnosis; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - etiology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Cluster Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Crowding; Feces - parasitology; Female; Housing; Humans; Hygiene; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - diagnosis; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Morocco - epidemiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Prevalence; Refuse Disposal; Risk Factors; Rural Health - statistics & numerical data; Sex Distribution; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Morocco
• ISSN: 1020-3397; 1020-3397

An evaluation was made of the risk of contamination by faecal parasites in the population from the use of wastewater in agriculture. The study was based in 3 rural clusters in the northern region of Settat city, Morocco: 2 rural clusters exposed to untreated wastewater in agriculture and 1 not exposed. The sample comprised 333 people aged 3-60+ years: 214 exposed and 119 non-exposed. Stool samples were collected and examined for intestinal parasites. The results showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis (i.e. evidence of at least 1 type of parasite) in the exposed group was significantly higher that the non-exposed group (66.4% versus 31.9%; relative risk 2.1). The household crowding index was also higher in the exposed group.