Access and Sanitation of Drinking Water and Diarrheal Disease in the Department of Yoro, Honduras

INTRODUCTION: Honduras has recently focused on increasing the availability of clean water in order to lower the incidence of diarrheal diseases, which are currently among the top three leading causes of disease in children up to five years of age. We examine and compare drinking water access and sanitation, as well as self-reported diarrheal disease incidence among the Lomitas, La Hicaca, and Coyoles communities of the Department of Yoro area of Honduras.

METHODS: In June 2011, 263 randomly selected participants receiving care from a medical brigade completed a 20-item language-specific, interviewer-administered, anonymous water sanitation questionnaire. We documented and analyzed data on drinking water sources and sanitation methods, in addition to diarrheal disease rates, at both the individual and community level.

RESULTS: Over half of the participants obtained their drinking water from a private faucet, 20.9% purchased bottled water, and 12.5% obtained water from a river. Nearly one-third identified using filters to sanitize their water, 19% purchased bottled water and 19% used no sanitation method. Only 14.8% identified using chlorine. In the community of Lomitas, 60% of participants used no sanitation method. In this community over a quarter of its participants had experienced diarrhea within the last 30 days, which was the highest incidence rate reported among all three communities (p=0.03).

CONCLUSION: The surveyed communities of Yoro vary in terms of water access and sanitation and self-reported diarrheal incidence, reflecting the need for area-specific aid.