Assignment 7 Sharpe 1

Assignment 7

California State University Channel Islands

BIO 432

Megan Sharpe
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Summary

The epidemiology research published in the article, Outbreak investigation of cholera

outbreak in a slum area of urban Wardha, India: An interventional epidemiological study is

relevant to the prevalence of cholera infections in the slums of India. Cholera causes an acute

diarrheal disease due to food and water contamination of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The

outbreak of cholera is rarely found in high-income countries. The availability of clean water and

sanitation has led to the elimination (Goswami et al., 2019). This however does not pertain to

third world countries, especially the slums of India. Even though cholera is a preventable and

treatable disease it continues to cause high rates of mortality. The outbreak of symptoms related

to cholera were reported in the slum area of Wardha, India. This study examined the population

and water supply of the slums of Wardha for cholera. The study found that 27% of the

population was infected with the cholera bacteria (Goswami et al., 2019). As the study was

interventional the treatment of cholera was administered, and precautions were taken to prevent

future cholera outbreaks.

Methods of Data Collection

In the study the methods which were used for the collection of data consisted of a

physical examination and a sanitation survey. The area of the study was focused on the slums

located 3 km from the city, which consisted of a population of 180 individuals. Approximately

104 people were interviewed (Goswami et al., 2019). A thorough physical examination occurred.

Stool samples of individuals of a high probability of cholera or had symptoms consistent with

cholera were taken. The sanitary survey that occurred was to test the water supply. The water

supply from wells and pipes were tested for the bacterium.
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Housing-Related Health Risks

The slums of India’s living quarters are described to consist of huts/tents in heavily

populated areas. The slum dwellers live among their livestock. A majority of the slum dweller

population practice open field defecation. The water supply provided to them is a system of

wells. These wells are not regularly chlorinated to prevent illnesses that can be waterborne.

Along with contaminated water, the poor hygienic practices of the slum dwellers impact the

spread of disease. The lack of handwashing after defecation and before eating are practices are

not adherend too in the slums of India. Handwashing is influential in the stopping the spread of

germs. Germs can cause disease. These unsanitary conditions allow for the rampant spread of

diseases.

Public Health Impacts

The effect on cholera on the population in the slums of India is a public health concern.

This study indicates the negative impacts of unsanitary living conditions of the slums due to the

lack of water and sanitation infrastructures, poor hygiene, and unhealthy social practices

(Goswami et al., 2019). The practice of open field defecation is an issue that needs to be

addressed upon the findings of this study. Certain cultural practices need to be evaluated and

changed. The public health system of India is limited. The outbreak of cholera in the slums of

Wardha is preventable. Hopefully, the findings of the study will be addressed so that future

outbreaks do not occur.

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References

Goswami, S., Jha, A., Sivan, S., Dambhare, D., & Gupta, S. (2019). Outbreak investigation of

cholera outbreak in a slum area of urban Wardha, India: An interventional

epidemiological study. Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care, 8(3), 1112–

1116. https://doi-org.summit.csuci.edu/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_308_18