| dc.description.abstract | Background: Cholera is an infectious disease of public health importance can’t be overstated,
given the hypovolemia it causes with its associated sequelae, in addition to the possible health
ripple effects on the wider community. Whereas the disease is treatable with vaccines available,
its treatment is associated with antibiotic resistance, while the vaccination is also contraindicated
among children less than 2 years, yet it is ineffective among some older children. Prevention thus
remains the most potent approach for the global target to eliminate cholera and has indeed been
embraced. However, cholera outbreaks are still rampant, with active cases apparent in 2020.
Objective: This study aimed at assessing predictors of cholera outbreaks in Mazimasa and
Himutu sub-counties in Butaleja district - eastern Uganda
Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was used, involving 368 household heads,
Mazimasa and Himutu sub counties were stratified, parishes therein randomly sampled and also
stratified so as to randomly sample villages. Households were conveniently sampled, household
heads sampled purposively, and engaged in structured interviews. Document reviews were also
done, and the data collected analyzed in SPSS version 25
Findings:Slightly more than a tenth of the households sampled had had a member diagnosed
with the disease previously 41/368 (11.1%), with slightly more than three quarters of the cases in
Mazimasa sub county 31(75.6%).
Having a household member with HIV/AIDS (aPR = 1.638, CI = 1.465 - 1.877, p = 0.006),
malaria being a common illness in a household (aPR = 1.892, CI = 1.847 - 2.940, P = <0.001),
being a male headed household (aPR = 0.933, CI = 0.879 - 0.991, P = 0.023), having one male
member in a household (aPR = 0.767, CI = 0.662 - 0.889, p = <0.001), boiling water for drinking
(aPR = 0.931, CI = 0.888 - 0.976, P = 0.003), boiling water sometimes (aPR = 0.767, 0.642 -
0.916, P = 0.003), always consuming fish (aPR = 1.143, CI = 1.011 - 2.869, P = <0.001), use of
flood water for any purpose (aPR = 0.894, CI = 0.832 - 0.961, P = 0.020), and use of communal
toilets constructed with local materials (aPR = 1.223, CI = 1.083 - 1.380, p = 0.001) predicted
cholera outbreak at an intra-household level.
Flooding frequency being once a year (aPR = 0.928, CI = 0.907 - 0.950, P = <0.001), having a
tap as the main water source in the villages (aPR = 1.059, CI = 1.009 - 1.112, P = 0.021), water
shortages (aPR = 1.058, CI = 1.005 - 1.115, P = 0.032) in communities, and the frequency of
being once per year (aPR = 0.780, CI = 0.645 - 0.943, P = 0.010) predicted cholera outbreaks
from an environmental perspective
Conclusion: About 1 in every 10 households in Mazimasa and Himutu sub-counties has had a
cholera outbreak, predicted by both intra-household and community characteristics. However,
intra-household characteristics happened to be more important of the two, with the implication
that whereas preventive interventions ought to target both intra-household and community
entities, relatively more emphasis should be put on the intra-household entity | en_US |
