Abstract:
The use of pit latrines, their eventual fill up and need to desludge them expose humans and the environment to diseases associated with untreated excreta. Based on this, a study was done in Nakuru County to assess prescence of viable parasitic helminthes ova in faecal sludge and pit desludging and disposal practices used. Thirty five pit latrines were sampled and the prescence of parasitic helminthes ova determined at varius pit depths. Pit desludging and disposal practices was also analysed from a sample of 28 practitioners to determine their health safety level. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant differences in the occurrence of via ble helminthes ova in relation to pit depth. Where significant differences were found, Post Hoc tests (fisher‟s exact and Tukey) were done to establish the exact depths at which the significant differences occurred. Descriptive statistics were used to describe desludging practices in relation to occupational health challenges amongst those involved and in relation to environmental and public health. Results indicate that among the 128 samples collected, 23% (n=30) were found to bear viable helminthes ova. The ova identified belonged to seven species of helminthes, ie; Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Schistosoma haematobium, schistosoma mansoni, Taenia sp, Enterobius vermicularies and Necator americanus. A significant difference in the occurrence of total viable helminthes ova versus pit latrine depth was established. This meant that some depths had higher concentration of helminthes ova than others. A significant difference in the occurrence of viable Ascaris ova versus pit depth was also established meaning that some depths were higher in the concentration of Ascaris ova than others. Ascaris was the most dominant and persistent helminthes parasite in pit latrine faecal sludge suggesting that pit latrine sludge was still infective upon exposure to exhausters and the public. The fact that faecal sludge mixes up during desludging implies that there is a possibility of exposure from all the different species of helminthic parasites identified regardless of the depth from which one is emptying from. Proper handling, disposal and occupational safety by those desludging pit latrines should be ensured to prevent infections from the various hazards identified.
