EPIDEMIOlOGY OF WATER BORNE DISEASES AND THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF THE BASIC SCHOOL CHILDREN TOWARDS THEM IN El-OBEID, NORTH KORDOFAN STATE, SUDAN (2011 - 2014)

Dr. Mohammed Ismail Humaida Ismail* and Dr. Salwa Elsanousi Hussein Elnaeem

ABSTRACT

Background: The problem of water borne diseases is especially prevalent where general hygiene and environmental sanitation are poor. This facility based cross-sectional study aimed to study the epidemiology of water borne diseases and the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the Basic school students towards them in El-Obied, North Kordofan State in the period of 2011-2014. Methodology: The study comprised of 428 students selected from 12 schools. Data were collected via questionnaire as well as the interviews, observation checklist and microbiological tests. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 11.5. Results: The study showed that the prevalence of diarrhoea 22.4%, giardiasis 40.4%, amoebiasis 1.2%, salmonellosis 7.2%, and shigellosis 3%. This study showed that 263 (61.4%) of respondents heard about water borne diseases and 281 (65.7%) of them do not have knowledge towards water borne diseases transmission. The students practicing open defecation in about two (17%) of schools due to unavailability of latrines. Conclusion: The study revealed that there is a problem of water borne diseases in basic schools in El-Obied specially Giardiasis, which is dominated as compared with amoebiasis, shigeliosis and salmonellosis and there was a poor knowledge of school children towards water borne diseases transmission routes, prevention and types.

Keywords: Water Borne Diseases, School Children, El-Obeid, Sudan.