Associations between Self-Reported Gastrointestinal Illness and Water System Characteristics in Community Water Supplies in Rural Alabama: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Community water supplies in underserved areas of the United States may be associated with increased microbiological contamination and risk of gastrointestinal disease. Microbial and health risks affecting such systems have not been systematically characterized outside outbreak investigations. The objective of the study was to evaluate associations between self-reported gastrointestinal illnesses (GII) and household-level water supply characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of water quality, water supply characteristics, and GII in 906 households served by 14 small and medium-sized community water supplies in Alabama's underserved Black Belt region.

Results

We identified associations between respondent-reported water supply interruption

SUBMITTER: Stauber CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4731071 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature