Testing the Relationship Between Access to Water and Wastewater Services and Rates of Infectious Diseases in Colonias and Census Tracts in El Paso County
Date
2001-05
Authors
Francik, Wendy A.
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Abstract
This study tested hypotheses about the relationship between access levels to water and wastewater services and hepatitis A, shigellosis, and salmonellosis rates m the colonias and census tracts in El Paso County, Texas. The infectious disease cases were mapped to identify their geographic locations in colonias and census tracts m El Paso County. Significant relationships only were found between dwellings accessing different types of water and wastewater services and the average annual incidence rate per 100,000 of shigellosis in the census tracts (Q < 0 05 or 0 01). Accessing public or private water services was related to a decrease m the average annual incidence rate of shigellosis, while accessing water wells, other sources of water, and septic tanks or cesspools was related to an increase m the average annual incidence rate of shigellosis. Also, youth who were 1-11 had the highest average annual incidence rates per 100,000 of hepatitis A, salmonellosis, and shigellosis in the census tracts. In the future, primary research should focus on identifying all potential risk factors (i. e., personal hygiene, food preparation or storage, and water and wastewater access) contributing to the spread of hepatitis A, salmonellosis, and shigellosis in counties along the Texas-Mexico Border.
Description
Keywords
communicable diseases, environmentally induced diseases, water-supply, sewage disposal
Citation
Francik, W. A. (2001). Testing the relationship between access to water and wastewater services and rates of infectious diseases in colonias and census tracts in El Paso County (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.