Huttly S R, Lanata C F, Yeager B A, Fukumoto M, del Aguila R, Kendall C
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Maternal and Child Epidemiology Unit, United Kingdom.
Rev Panam Salud Publica. 1998 Aug;4(2):75-9. doi: 10.1590/s1020-49891998000800001.
Sanitary disposal of feces is vital to combat childhood diarrhea, and its promotion is key to improving health in developing countries. Knowledge of prevailing feces disposal practices is a prerequisite to formulation of effective intervention strategies. Two studies were conducted in a shantytown area of Lima, Peru. First, information was gathered through in-depth interviews with mothers and structured observations (4 hours) of young children and their caretakers. Data on beliefs and practices related to feces disposal behaviors were obtained. Excreta were deposited by animals or humans in or near the house in 82% of households observed. Beliefs about feces depended on their source and were reflected in how likely the feces were to be cleared. While 22% of children aged > or = 18 months were observed to use a potty for defecation, 48% defecated on the ground where the stools often remained. Although almost all children were cleaned after defecation, 30% retained some fecal matter on their body or clothes. Handwashing after the child's defecation was extremely rare for both children (5%) and caretakers (20%). The hygienic disposal of feces poses problems in this type of community. Nevertheless existing practices were found that show promise for promotion on a wider scale, including greater use of potties.
粪便的卫生处理对于防治儿童腹泻至关重要，推广粪便卫生处理是改善发展中国家健康状况的关键。了解当前的粪便处理方式是制定有效干预策略的前提。在秘鲁利马的一个棚户区进行了两项研究。首先，通过对母亲进行深入访谈以及对幼儿及其照料者进行4小时的结构化观察来收集信息。获取了与粪便处理行为相关的观念和做法的数据。在观察到的82%的家庭中，动物或人将排泄物倾倒在房屋内或房屋附近。对粪便的看法取决于其来源，并反映在清理粪便的可能性上。虽然观察到22%的18个月及以上儿童使用便盆排便，但48%的儿童在地上排便，粪便常常留在那里。虽然几乎所有儿童排便后都会被清洗，但30%的儿童身体或衣服上仍残留一些粪便。儿童排便后，儿童（5%）和照料者（20%）洗手的情况极为罕见。在这类社区中，粪便的卫生处理存在问题。然而，已发现一些现有做法有望在更广泛的范围内推广，包括更多地使用便盆。
