Prevalence and Factors Associated with Waterborne Diseases in Couffo, Southwestern Benin: The Case of Aplahoué

Cyriaque Degbey (), Eunice Houessionon and Christophe de Brouwer
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Cyriaque Degbey: Department of Environmental Health, Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey Calavi, Cotonou 01 BP 918, Benin
Eunice Houessionon: National Water Institute, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 BP 526, Benin
Christophe de Brouwer: Occupational Health Unit and Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Water-related diseases are among the infectious diseases that represent a major public health challenge in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of waterborne diseases and the factors associated with their occurrence in the commune of Aplahoué, located in southwestern Benin. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 125 households selected through simple random sampling in the commune. Data analysis was performed using regression models and Chi-square tests with SPSS version 27.0, considering a p -value below 5% as statistically significant. This study revealed an overall prevalence of waterborne diseases of 45.6% at the household level and 16.6% at the individual level. Malaria was the most prevalent waterborne disease (8.4%), followed by diarrhea (6.3%). Multivariate analysis identified a history of waterborne diseases and hospitalization due to waterborne diseases as significant independent risk factors for the occurrence of new waterborne diseases. It is, therefore, critical to improve access to safe drinking water, promote better hygiene and sanitation practices, and strengthen health education through effective communication to foster behavioral change within the community.

Keywords: waterborne diseases; prevalence; health education; Benin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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