Department of Environmental Science and Health, Faculty of Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Municipality of Beitbridge, 290 Justitia Road, P O Box 164, Beitbridge, Zimbabwe.
Department of Environmental Science and Health, Faculty of Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Scientific Agriculture and Environment Development Institute, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Waste Manag. 2020 Mar 15;105:501-510. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.02.041. Epub 2020 Mar 4.
Population growth, urbanisation and economic development have led to the increasing generation of municipal solid waste while environmentally sustainable management remains a challenge the world over. This study sought to investigate health effects associated with proximity to waste collection points in Beitbridge Municipality, Zimbabwe. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to compare the occurrence of disease among the residents living within different distances from the waste collection points (50 m, 100 m, 150 m, 200 m, 250 m, 300 m and above 300 m). A handheld GPS device was used to collect coordinates of the location for the purposes of mapping. The Fishers Exact test and the Multiple Logistic Regression model conducted (on STATA V 13 SE) to determine the association between different variables and the occurrence of health effects. Questionnaires were administered to 700 stratified randomly selected respondents. Five refuse collection points and spatial distribution of health conditions were mapped at Dulibadzimu high-density suburb. The overall response rate was 98% and females constituted the majority of respondents (58%). Most of these respondents were aged between 26 and 35 years of age and were involved in informal trading (35%). Reported health conditions were diarrhoea, dyspnoea, dry cough, eye irritation and asthma. Distance, waste collection point, level of education, nature of occupation and sex were significant contributors to the prevalence of health effects associated with exposure to waste. Exposure to waste is a serious health concern in Beitbridge. Local authority is encouraged to abolish these waste collection points and invest more on conventional waste management systems in partnership with different stakeholders.
人口增长、城市化和经济发展导致城市固体废物的产生不断增加，而在全球范围内，环境可持续管理仍然是一个挑战。本研究旨在调查津巴布韦比铁里比垃圾收集点附近居民与疾病相关的健康影响。采用横断面研究比较了居住在距离垃圾收集点不同距离（50m、100m、150m、200m、250m、300m 及以上 300m）的居民的疾病发生情况。使用手持 GPS 设备收集位置坐标，以便进行映射。采用 Fisher 精确检验和多因素逻辑回归模型（在 STATA V 13 SE 上进行），确定不同变量与健康影响发生之间的关联。对 700 名分层随机选择的受访者进行了问卷调查。在 Dulibadzimu 高密度郊区，对五个垃圾收集点和健康状况的空间分布进行了映射。总响应率为 98%，女性占大多数受访者（58%）。这些受访者大多年龄在 26 岁至 35 岁之间，从事非正式交易（35%）。报告的健康状况包括腹泻、呼吸困难、干咳、眼睛刺激和哮喘。距离、垃圾收集点、教育程度、职业性质和性别是与接触废物相关的健康影响流行的重要因素。接触废物是比铁里比的一个严重健康问题。鼓励地方当局取消这些垃圾收集点，并与不同利益攸关方合作，在传统废物管理系统上投入更多资金。
