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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Katherine A. Schilling, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Alex O. Awuor, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Anu Rajasingham, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Fenny Moke, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Richard Omore, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Manase Amollo, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Tamer H. Farag, University of Maryland; Dilruba Nasrin, University of Maryland; James P. Nataro, University of Maryland; Karen L. Kotloff, University of Maryland; Myron M. Levine, University of Maryland; Tracy Ayers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Kayla F. Laserson, Emory University; Anna Blackstock, Emory University; Richard Rothenberg, Emory University; Christine E. Stauber, Georgia State University; Eric Mintz, Emory University; Robert F Breiman, Emory University; Ciara E. O'Reilly, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-01-01
• Publisher: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2018 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0774
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• ISSN: 0002-9637
• Volume: 99
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 905
• End Page: 915
• Keywords: IMPACT; HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS; KNOWLEDGE; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; NYANZA PROVINCE; Tropical Medicine; INTERVENTION; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; HEALTH; CARE; STORAGE; SAFE WATER; DIARRHEA PREVENTION; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Diarrheal illness, acommonoccurrence among people living with humanimmunodeficiency 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.