Occurrence of environmental enteropathy (Malawi)

The study evaluated the possible risks of contracting environmental enteropathy among households utilizing shared pit latrines in T/A Kyungu, Karonga District in Malawi. Environmental enteropathy is caused due to exposure of large quantities of fecal bacteria due to poor sanitation and hygiene. Karonga District is one of the District in Malawi where cases of cholera diseases occur every year. The study used a mixed methods approach in which a researcher collected quantitative data first in the sequence and used the qualitative data to refine the results of the quantitative data. A sample of 96 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling and purposive sampling. Data was collected using questionnaire and key informant interviews. Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 was used for data analysis. The study found out that people were at risk of contracting diarrheal diseases 21 (22%), cholera 40 (42%), Typhoid and dysentery 22 (23%) and fungal infections 13 (14%). Key informants reported that possible risks were cholera disease, diarrhoea and Typhoid due to open child faeces, and lack of hand washing facilities, lack of drop hole-covers, these were causes of contracting environmental enteropathy. The Government and Non- Governmental Organizations should ensure effective health campaigns, sensitization and education on sanitation and hygiene and raise awareness among households utilizing shared pit latrines. City councils and other stakeholders should to intensify behavior change on sanitation and hygiene practices.