Impact of Transitioning to Treated Water on Diarrhea Reduction: A Cross-Sectional and Ecological Study in Southwestern Goiás, Brazil

Laise Mazurek, Camila Botelho Miguel, Henrique Polizelli Pinto Neto, Eduardo Henrique Vieira Araujo, Melissa Carvalho Martins de Abreu, Jamil Miguel Neto, Glicélia Pereira Silva, Mariana Santos Cardoso, Siomar de Castro Soares, Aristóteles Góes-Neto, Carlo José Freire Oliveira and Wellington Francisco Rodrigues ()
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Laise Mazurek: Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro—UFTM, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
Camila Botelho Miguel: Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro—UFTM, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
Henrique Polizelli Pinto Neto: Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Scientific Evidence, University Center of Mineiros—Unifimes, Mineiros 75833-130, GO, Brazil
Eduardo Henrique Vieira Araujo: State Emergency Hospital of Goiânia Dr. Valdemiro Cruz, Goiânia 74820-300, GO, Brazil
Melissa Carvalho Martins de Abreu: Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Scientific Evidence, University Center of Mineiros—Unifimes, Mineiros 75833-130, GO, Brazil
Jamil Miguel Neto: Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Scientific Evidence, University Center of Mineiros—Unifimes, Mineiros 75833-130, GO, Brazil
Glicélia Pereira Silva: Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Scientific Evidence, University Center of Mineiros—Unifimes, Mineiros 75833-130, GO, Brazil
Mariana Santos Cardoso: Department of Microbiology, Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi Laboratory, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Siomar de Castro Soares: Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro—UFTM, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
Aristóteles Góes-Neto: Department of Microbiology, Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi Laboratory, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Carlo José Freire Oliveira: Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro—UFTM, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
Wellington Francisco Rodrigues: Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro—UFTM, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: Access to safe drinking water is a global challenge, with significant disparities affecting public health and quality of life. This study evaluated the relationship between specific water parameters, public satisfaction with treated water, and diarrhea incidence in Southwestern Goiás, Brazil. The objectives were (1) to assess water parameters, including aluminum, iron, manganese, pH, hardness, fecal coliforms, and turbidity, in samples from springs, streams, and municipal supplies; (2) to evaluate residents’ satisfaction with municipal water and their reliance on untreated water sources; and (3) to analyze the impact of transitioning from untreated to treated water following the closure of a spring in 2017 on diarrheal diseases. A longitudinal observational study reviewed diarrhea cases from 2013 to 2019. Treated water met potability standards, while untreated springs showed significant contamination. Dissatisfaction with treated water correlated strongly with continued reliance on untreated springs ( p < 0.05), increasing the diarrhea risk nearly ninefold (OR = 8.78; 95% CI = 4.37–18.29). The findings underscore the importance of transitioning to treated water for mitigating diarrheal diseases and enhancing public trust in water safety. This study provides a replicable and scalable approach for improving water sanitation management, addressing waterborne diseases, and supporting public health interventions in diverse global contexts.

Keywords: treated water; diarrhea prevention; waterborne pathogens; public health; southwestern Goiás (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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