Exploring seasonal variations in faecal risk pathways using SaniPath (Uganda)

The aim of this study was to evaluate public health risk (using SaniPath) in Rubaga division, Kampala in the dry season, identify the most dominant exposure pathways, and compare this with the SaniPath study that had already been undertaken in the rainy season. Primary data was collected through household, community and school surveys; environmental samples were collected from public latrine swabs, soil, drain water, grey water, drinking water, market produce, street food and surface water around the villages. Based on the findings of this research, the general conclusion that can be drawn is that the most dominant pathways with the highest risk for both adults and children, are street food and open drains, where no significant difference between the seasons and the level of risk was observed. Therefore, sampling could be done in any season, but if floodwater is suspected to be a high risk, then rainy season is preferred. Although other pathways had been also linked to contamination, the magnitude and frequency of exposure were not as high as those of street food and open drains. Therefore, it was recommended that Kampala Capital City Authority should tackle public health risk related to sanitation through investment of resources for improvement of the drainage systems in this division in order to minimize direct contact. It is also recommended to introduce measures to prevent  contamination of  street food and the sale of already contaminated food.