Authors : Mochammad Hatta, Mirjam Bakker, Stella van Beers, Theresia H. Abdoel and Henk L. Smits
Abstract: A survey was carried out among all household heads in five neighbouring villages in rural South-Sulawesi, Indonesia, to collect information on the prevalence of typhoid fever and of demographic and behavioural risk factors for having typhoid. The household heads recalled 134 cases of typhoid fever during the preceding year of whom 90% had been diagnosed based on clinical findings by a trained health worker. The following independent risk factors were identified: consumption of uncooked vegetables (aOR, 5.31), consumption of water with a poor quality (aOR, 5.29), use of water that is contaminated with coliform bacteria (aOR, 4.11), not washing hands before eating (aOR, 9.73) and not using soap for washing hands (aOR, 2.84). The results indicate that in the absence of clean drinking water and adequate sanitation education focussing on simple measures such as hand washing with soap before eating and cooking of vegetables before consumption may contribute to the prevention of typhoid fever in rural areas.
Mochammad Hatta, Mirjam Bakker, Stella van Beers, Theresia H. Abdoel and Henk L. Smits, 2009. Risk Factors for Clinical Typhoid Fever in Villages in Rural South-Sulawesi, Indonesia. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 4: 91-99.