Authors: Bailey R Downes B Downes R Mabey D
Publish Date: 1991/11/01
Volume: 85, Issue: 6, Pages: 824-828
Abstract
R Bailey B Downes R Downes D Mabey Trachoma and water use a case control study in a Gambian village Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Volume 85 Issue 6 November 1991 Pages 824–828 https//doiorg/101016/003592039190470JTrachoma is prevalent in many arid areas but data assessing the relationship between water use and trachoma are very scarce This study compared 18 families having one or more active trachoma cases among the children with 16 trachomafree families in the same village with respect to water use Potential confounders such as family size distance to water source socioeconomic indicators and hygiene behaviour were assessed in the 2 groups The families with trachoma were found to use significantly less water per person per day for washing children than did the control group P = 0·033 with no evidence of confounding by the other measured variables Low amounts of water for washing were also associated with unclean faces and impetigo in the children If such a relationship can be substantiated it might provide the basis for effective and cheap interventions against trachoma
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