Objective: To evaluate the hygienic, environmental, social and economic benefits achieved by rural latrine renovation in key schistosomiasis control areas, Jiangsu Province.
Methods: Eights villages (evaluation villages) that finished and the three villages (control villages) that did not finish the latrine renovation work were sampled and investigated through field visits, questionnaire, referring to information and so on, to collect relevant data, and human waste samples were detected for laboratory indicators in hygiene and environment, in key schistosomiasis control areas in three counties (cities, districts), Jiangsu Province.
Results: A total of 11 villages and 220 households were investigated. In the evaluation villages, the owning rate and quality conformity rate of three-format sanitary latrines were 98.6% and 98.8%, respectively. The human schistosome infection rate, intestinal parasite infection rate, the incidence of intestinal infectious diseases, and related medical costs decreased by 100%, 44.5%, 34.2% and 82.8%, respectively, compared with those before latrine renovation. In laboratory testing, the removal rates of fecal coliform values, CODcr, BOD5 and ammonia nitrogen in the third cell of household latrine were 99.99%, 68.50%, 63.17% and 52.30%, respectively, compared to those in the first cell. The village appearance had changed fundamentally, the villagers were satisfied with the latrine renovation, and their health knowledge and health behavior improved significantly.
Conclusions: Rural latrine renovation in key schistosomiasis control areas has got great achievements in hygienic, environmental, social and economic benefits. It plays an important role in the promotion of schistosomiasis control, economic development and social harmony.