TITLE:
Situation of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation in a Peri-Urban Area in Benin, West Africa: The Case of Sèmè-Podji
AUTHORS:
Roch Christian Johnson, Hadehou Segla, Tamègnon Victorien Dougnon, Gratien Boni, Honoré Sourou Bankole, Christophe Houssou, Michel Boko
KEYWORDS:
Sèmè-Podji, Environment, Health, Vulnerability, Population
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.12,
September
29,
2014
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze the environmental factors related to health vulnerability
in the municipality of Sèmè-Podji. For this study, 216 households were surveyed
using questionnaires. Twelve key informants were enrolled for depth interviews and
18 water samples were collected from different sources used by the populations.
It came out of our investigations that water from traditional sources used at Sèmè-Podji
was contaminated by various microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms. 66.38% of households reject domestic
waste and 47.41% of them evacuate sewage in the yard. In addition, 93.05% drop stagnant
water for natural infiltration. This municipality faces lack of sanitation. The
main health problems experienced by people were malaria (46.35%), diarrheal diseases
(15.88%). The study stated some results which could improve the help about health
management in the area.