Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control
Introduction: Cholera still remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, although comprehensive surveillance data to inform policy and strategies are scarce. Methodology: A desk review of the national cholera database and zonal and districts reports was conducted....
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3506 |
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| author | Kelias Phiri Msyamboza Mathew Kagoli Maurice M'bang'ombe Sikhona Chipeta Humphrey Dzanjo Masuku |
| author_facet | Kelias Phiri Msyamboza Mathew Kagoli Maurice M'bang'ombe Sikhona Chipeta Humphrey Dzanjo Masuku |
| author_sort | Kelias Phiri Msyamboza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Cholera still remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, although comprehensive surveillance data to inform policy and strategies are scarce.
Methodology: A desk review of the national cholera database and zonal and districts reports was conducted. Interviews were conducted with district health management teams, health workers, and participants in communities in six districts affected by cholera in 2011/2012 to obtain data on water, sanitation, and sociocultural issues.
Results: From 1998 to 2012, cholera outbreaks occurred every year in Malawi, with the highest number of cases and deaths reported in 2001/2002 (33,546 cases, 968 deaths; case fatality rate [CFR] 2.3%). In 2011/2012, cholera outbreak was widespread in the southern region, affecting 10 out of 13 districts, where 1,806 cases and 38 deaths (CFR 2.1%) were reported. Unsafe water sources, lack of maintenance of broken boreholes, frequent breakdown of piped water supply, low coverage of pit latrines (range 40%-60%), lack of hand washing facilities (< 5%), salty borehole water, fishermen staying on Lake Chilwa, cross-border Malawi-Mozambique disease spread, and sociocultural issues were some of the causes of the persistent cholera outbreaks in Malawi.
Conclusions: Despite improvements in safe drinking water and sanitation, cholera is still a major public health problem. Introduction of a community-led total sanitation approach, use of social and cultural information in community mobilization strategies, and introduction of an oral cholera vaccine could help to eliminate cholera in Malawi.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a3fcb76cdc584d7eac1207681dc74697 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-a3fcb76cdc584d7eac1207681dc746972025-08-20T02:57:25ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802014-06-0180610.3855/jidc.3506Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and controlKelias Phiri Msyamboza0Mathew Kagoli1Maurice M'bang'ombe2Sikhona Chipeta3Humphrey Dzanjo Masuku4World Health Organization, Malawi Country Office, Lilongwe, MalawiMinistry of Health, Lilongwe, MalawiMinistry of Health, Lilongwe, MalawiMinistry of Health, Lilongwe, MalawiMinistry of Health, Lilongwe, MalawiIntroduction: Cholera still remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, although comprehensive surveillance data to inform policy and strategies are scarce. Methodology: A desk review of the national cholera database and zonal and districts reports was conducted. Interviews were conducted with district health management teams, health workers, and participants in communities in six districts affected by cholera in 2011/2012 to obtain data on water, sanitation, and sociocultural issues. Results: From 1998 to 2012, cholera outbreaks occurred every year in Malawi, with the highest number of cases and deaths reported in 2001/2002 (33,546 cases, 968 deaths; case fatality rate [CFR] 2.3%). In 2011/2012, cholera outbreak was widespread in the southern region, affecting 10 out of 13 districts, where 1,806 cases and 38 deaths (CFR 2.1%) were reported. Unsafe water sources, lack of maintenance of broken boreholes, frequent breakdown of piped water supply, low coverage of pit latrines (range 40%-60%), lack of hand washing facilities (< 5%), salty borehole water, fishermen staying on Lake Chilwa, cross-border Malawi-Mozambique disease spread, and sociocultural issues were some of the causes of the persistent cholera outbreaks in Malawi. Conclusions: Despite improvements in safe drinking water and sanitation, cholera is still a major public health problem. Introduction of a community-led total sanitation approach, use of social and cultural information in community mobilization strategies, and introduction of an oral cholera vaccine could help to eliminate cholera in Malawi. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3506cholerasub-Saharan AfricaMalawi |
| spellingShingle | Kelias Phiri Msyamboza Mathew Kagoli Maurice M'bang'ombe Sikhona Chipeta Humphrey Dzanjo Masuku Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control Journal of Infection in Developing Countries cholera sub-Saharan Africa Malawi |
| title | Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control |
| title_full | Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control |
| title_fullStr | Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control |
| title_short | Cholera outbreaks in Malawi in 1998-2012: social and cultural challenges in prevention and control |
| title_sort | cholera outbreaks in malawi in 1998 2012 social and cultural challenges in prevention and control |
| topic | cholera sub-Saharan Africa Malawi |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3506 |
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