An Assessment of Household Knowledge and Practices during a Cholera Epidemic- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2016

Abstract

From August 15, 2015 to March 5, 2016, Tanzania reported 16,521 cholera cases and 251 deaths, with 4,596 cases and 44 deaths in its largest city, Dar es Salaam. To evaluate outbreak response efforts, we conducted a household survey with drinking water testing in the five most affected wards in Dar es Salaam. We interviewed 641 households 6 months after the beginning of the outbreak. Although most respondents knew that cholera causes diarrhea (90%) and would seek care if suspecting cholera (95%), only 45% were aware of the current outbreak in the area and only 5% would use oral rehydration salts (ORS) if ill. Of 200 (31%) respondents reporting no regular water treatment, 46% believed treatment was unnecessary and 18% believed treatment was too expensive. Fecal contamination was found in 45% of water samples and was associated with water availability (P = 0.047). Only 11% of samples had detectable free chlorine residual, which was associated with water availability (P = 0.025), reported current water treatment (P = 0.006), and observed free chlorine product in the household (P = 0.015). The provision of accessible, adequately chlorinated water supply, and implementation of social mobilization campaigns advocating household water treatment and use of ORS should be prioritized to address gaps in cholera prevention and treatment activities.