Effect of Water Quality, Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Practices on Health of School Going Children of Urban Slum Areas

Abstract

The study was carried out among the 246 school going children of urban slum of Tangail district and random sampling methods were applied. Slum population has been increasing in Bangladesh over the last three decades along with the growth and expansion of cities and towns.The facilities in urban slums were very much unsatisfactory due to lack of proper water supply and adequate hygiene and sanitation facilities. The good hygienic and sanitation knowledge and the practice have been found to be significantly low among the slum dwellers of Tangail district. Thewater supply and sanitation condition are improving very slowly in the urban slums of Tangail. Majority (94.7%) of the slum people use tube well water for drinking, cleaning and household purposes. The dustbin facility was the most neglected sector in these slums. Besides, Solid waste management and drainage system were totally unsatisfactory. It was observed that houses, shops, drains, roads etc. have been constructed unplanned and solid wastes were preserved on open places. Majority (58.1%) of the children did not ware sandal while going to latrine and did not cut finger nail regularly (54.5%). Most of the slum dwellers (63.4%) did not use cover for safety of the prepared food. It was observed that there was presence of pet/animal/insect in food preparation area of maximum households. Most of the people were unaware about toilet cleaning regularly. Findings of the study showed that 40.7% children were underweight, 28.9% children were stunted and 31.3% children were wasted. The child morbidity rate was high. Water quality, environmental sanitation and hygiene practices were positively correlated (r = 0 to +1) with health status of school going children. Thewater quality, environmental sanitation and hygiene practices have significant impact (p≤ 0.05) on the health of school going children of these slums.

A comparative study of health, nutritional status, and dietary pattern of primary school going and dropout slum children in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

“…The anthropometric result of study in urban slums of Tangail Pourashava recorded that 28.9% children were stunted and 69.9% were normal and only 1.2% were over normal. 16 This indicates better conditions of school going children compare to our study, which showed 38% of school going children were moderately stunted and 58% were normal. But in dropout group prevalence of stunting was higher (68% moderately stunted, 22% normal and 10% severely stunted) than school going children.…”

“…So, environmental sanitation and hygiene practices have a signifi cant impact (P-value ≤ 0.05) on the health of a school going child of the slum. 26…”

Densitas Gizi dan Morbiditas serta Hubungannya dengan Status Gizi Anak Usia Prasekolah Pedesaan

“…Begitupun sebaliknya bahwa terserang penyakit infeksi mengganggu metabolisme zat-zat gizi di dalam tubuh sehingga pemanfaatan zat gizi di dalam tubuh menjadi tidak optimal dan akan berdampak pertumbuhan. 28,29 Pada penelitian ini, morbiditas ditemukan tidak berhubungan dengan status gizi (p>0,05). Hasil yang sama juga ditemukan oleh Elvandari tahun 2017 dalam penilaian status gizi anak usia 1-3 tahun di Jawa Tengah.…”