Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Characteristics among HIV-Positive Households Participating in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study in Rural Western Kenya, 2008-2012

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Oct;99(4):905-915. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0774.

Abstract

Diarrheal illness, a common occurrence among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), is largely preventable through access to safe drinking water quality, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. We examined WASH characteristics among households with and without HIV-positive residents enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) in rural Western Kenya. Using univariable logistic regression, we examined differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative households in regard to WASH practices. Among HIV-positive households, we explored the relationship between the length of time knowing their HIV status and GEMS enrollment. No statistically significant differences were apparent in the WASH characteristics among HIV-positive and HIV-negative households. However, we found differences in the WASH characteristics among HIV-positive households who were aware of their HIV status ≥ 30 days before enrollment compared with HIV-positive households who found out their status < 30 days before enrollment or thereafter. Significantly more households aware of their HIV-positive status before enrollment reported treating their drinking water (odds ratio [OR] confidence interval [CI]: 2.34 [1.12, 4.86]) and using effective water treatment methods (OR [CI]: 9.6 [3.09, 29.86]), and had better drinking water storage practices. This suggests that within this region of Kenya, HIV programs are effective in promoting the importance of practicing positive WASH-related behaviors among PLHIV.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diarrhea / complications
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / virology
  • Drinking Water / analysis*
  • Drinking Water / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Family Characteristics
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Hand Hygiene*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Rural Population
  • Sanitation*
  • Time Factors
  • Water Purification / methods
  • Water Quality
  • Water Supply / methods

Substances

  • Drinking Water