Understanding the inter-relationship between millennium development goal targets: a spatial analysis of pit latrine density and groundwater source contamination

Wright, J.A., Okotto, J., Yang, H., Pedley, S. and Gundry, S. (2011) Understanding the inter-relationship between millennium development goal targets: a spatial analysis of pit latrine density and groundwater source contamination. American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Seattle, United States. 11 - 15 Apr 2011.

Abstract

Purpose: Target 7C of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aims to halve the proportion of households without access to safe water and basic sanitation by 2015. This paper aims to explore the relationship between these two targets by exploring the linkages between groundwater source contamination and pit latrine density in two suburbs of Kisumu, Kenya.

Methods: Sanitation in both selected suburbs predominantly comprised pit latrines and water supplies were principally comprised of hand-dug wells. During field survey work in 2001-2004, we mapped the locations of all pit latrines and wells in each suburb. We selected 53 wells at random and tested for both thermotolerant coliforms and enteric viruses. We carried out a simple visual checklist for potential hazards (known as a sanitary risk inspection) at each of the selected wells and used to compile a risk score. We then calculated the density of pit latrines surrounding each well using a range of different kernel sizes. We used multivariate analysis to assess the relationship between levels of microbiological contamination for each well, compared with sanitary risk inspection scores and pit latrine density.

Conclusions: The analysis suggests that pit latrine density may have a bearing on microbiological contamination of such groundwater sources. More generally, this suggests that in considering progress towards the MDGs, it is important to consider the inter-relationship between the different targets and not simply each target in isolation.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Author: J.A. Wright

Download statistics