Ng'andwe Sarah, Ogendi George M, Muoria Elizabeth, Ngoma Justine
Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University, Egerton, Kenya.
Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Science, Kapasa Makasa University, Chinsali, Zambia.
Environ Health Insights. 2025 May 18;19:11786302251337563. doi: 10.1177/11786302251337563. eCollection 2025.
The scarcity of safe drinking water affects individuals living in low income areas, increasing their vulnerability to waterborne diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between socio-economic factors, water handling practices and microbial water quality in Kitwe District, Zambia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 215 households using a semi-structured questionnaire along with microbiological analysis of water samples during the dry and wet season. A total of 44 water samples (per season) from the point of use and 16 source samples were analyzed for pH, temperature, residual chlorine, total coliforms, and . Multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations between socio-economic factors, water handling practices, and water quality.
The prevalence of contamination was 61.3% during the dry season and 77.3% during the wet season. Key factors associated with household water quality included, household monthly income, education level, family size, season, storage container design, water withdrawal method, covering storage containers, water treatment practices, and hand washing with soap. Notably, households that used narrow-mouthed containers (AOR = 0.090, 0.014-0.580), covered their storage containers (AOR = 0.113, 0.014-0.889), and practiced water treatment (AOR = 0.120, 0.022-0.656) showed significantly reduced risks of contamination.
The findings highlight the importance of socio-economic factors and proper water handling practices in improving household water quality. To enhance water safety and reduce water-related diseases, targeted interventions should focus on educating communities about the effective handling of water. Furthermore, addressing socio-economic factors and improving access to safe water are essential for mitigating contamination risks in low-income areas.
安全饮用水的匮乏影响着生活在低收入地区的人们，增加了他们感染水源性疾病的易感性。本研究旨在调查赞比亚基特韦区社会经济因素、水的处理方式与微生物水质之间的关系。
采用半结构化问卷对215户家庭进行横断面研究，并在旱季和雨季对水样进行微生物分析。共分析了44份（每个季节）使用点水样和16份水源水样的pH值、温度、余氯、总大肠菌群等。多变量逻辑回归分析了社会经济因素、水的处理方式与水质之间的关联。
旱季污染患病率为61.3%，雨季为77.3%。与家庭水质相关的关键因素包括家庭月收入、教育水平、家庭规模、季节、储水容器设计（此处原文缺失部分内容）、取水方式、储水容器覆盖情况、水处理方式以及用肥皂洗手。值得注意的是，使用窄口容器的家庭（调整后比值比[AOR]=0.090，0.014 - 0.580）、覆盖储水容器的家庭（AOR = 0.113，0.014 - 0.889）以及进行水处理的家庭（AOR = 0.120，0.022 - 0.656）污染风险显著降低。
研究结果凸显了社会经济因素和正确的水处理方式对改善家庭水质的重要性。为提高水安全并减少与水相关的疾病，有针对性的干预措施应侧重于教育社区如何有效处理水。此外，解决社会经济因素并改善安全水的获取对于降低低收入地区的污染风险至关重要。
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