Situation of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation in a Peri-Urban Area in Benin, West Africa: The Case of Sèmè-Podji

Roch Christian Johnson¹, Hadehou Segla¹, Tamègnon Victorien Dougnon^1,2*, Gratien Boni¹, Honoré Sourou Bankole², Christophe Houssou¹, Michel Boko¹

¹Laboratory of Hygiene, Sanitation ,Toxicology and Environmental Health, Interfaculty Center of Training and Research in Environment for the Sustainable Development, University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, Benin.
²Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2014.512121                

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the environmental factors related to health vulnerability in the municipality of Sèmè-Podji. For this study, 216 households were surveyed using questionnaires. Twelve key informants were enrolled for depth interviews and 18 water samples were collected from different sources used by the populations. It came out of our investigations that water from traditional sources used at Sèmè-Podji was contaminated by various microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms. 66.38% of households reject domestic waste and 47.41% of them evacuate sewage in the yard. In addition, 93.05% drop stagnant water for natural infiltration. This municipality faces lack of sanitation. The main health problems experienced by people were malaria (46.35%), diarrheal diseases (15.88%). The study stated some results which could improve the help about health management in the area.

Keywords

Sèmè-Podji, Environment, Health, Vulnerability, Population

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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