Quantification of exposure to fecal contamination in open drains in four neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana

Authors: Stephanie R. Gretsch, Joseph A. Ampofo, Kelly K. Baker, Julie Clennon, Clair A. Null, Dorothy Peprah, Heather Reese, Katharine Robb, Peter Teunis, Nii Wellington, Habib Yakubu, Christine L. Moe

Abstract: In low-income countries, rapid urbanization adds pressure to already stressed water and sanitation systems that are critical to the health of communities. Drainage networks, designed for stormwater but commonly used for disposing of waste, are rarely covered completely, allowing residents to easily contact their contents. This study used spatial mapping, documentation of physical drain characteristics, microbiological analysis of drain samples, and behavioral observation to comprehensively examine drains as a route of exposure to fecal contamination in four low-income neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana. READ MORE