PercentagesMat<strong>the</strong>w Biniyam KursahTRITA LWR Master Thesis10.72.934.3No cookingSeparate exclusive/shareOpen <strong>space</strong> in compoundo<strong>the</strong>r52.1Figure 19: Type <strong>of</strong> household cooking <strong>space</strong> in Saboba district.Source: 2000 Population <strong>and</strong> Housing Census, Ghana Statistical Service (2005b)120100806040200Central Township5.35.35.310.510.55.321.136.8Toma6.13 6.115.224.221.221.2Chief-section3.63.610.714.314.332.121.4Bordagbalm6.312.52531.325Wapuli3.93.97.719.211.511.511.530.8Poor dietPoor <strong>water</strong> storageFarming/fertilizer use close to <strong>water</strong>High expose to sunlightPresence <strong>of</strong> animal dumpIlliteracyChemical usage in fishingPollution <strong>of</strong> <strong>water</strong>Washing/swimming/step <strong>water</strong> bodiesLittered environmentPresence <strong>of</strong> stagnant <strong>water</strong>/No drainsFree-range defecationLack <strong>of</strong> clean/treated <strong>water</strong>Selected AreasFigure 20: Place-specific causes <strong>of</strong> <strong>water</strong>-related diseases in <strong>the</strong> districtFigure 21: District Environmental Health Officer showing <strong>the</strong> author some health bombin Saboba Township. a) Public waste dump, b) Faeces from public toilet is buried herec) Indiscriminate waste dump, respectively52
Water <strong>sources</strong>, <strong>infrastructure</strong>, <strong>space</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>dynamics</strong> <strong>of</strong> environmental diseases in Saboba District: Using GISCHAPTER 4This chapter concludes that <strong>the</strong> immediate environmental threats for <strong>the</strong>people <strong>of</strong> Saboba district may not be <strong>the</strong> long-term effects <strong>of</strong> globalwarming, cumulative exposure to carcinogens, or decade-longdesertification but ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> life <strong>and</strong> death immediacy <strong>of</strong> Malaria,Typhoid <strong>and</strong> respiratory diseases. Their threats are derived from humanmadehousehold environments, characterised by near-<strong>the</strong>-door-faeces, farfrom-door-<strong>water</strong><strong>and</strong> uncontrolled sewage. Widespread <strong>of</strong> bushfires, <strong>the</strong>high use <strong>of</strong> woodfuel for cooking may explain <strong>the</strong> widespread <strong>of</strong>respiratory diseases in <strong>the</strong> district, irrespective <strong>of</strong> geography. The effects<strong>of</strong> burning mosquito coils <strong>and</strong> plant matter on RTI need fur<strong>the</strong>rscientific discovery. However, from a rationale <strong>and</strong> social scienceperspectives, this study holds <strong>the</strong> view that <strong>the</strong> smoke produced byburning mosquito coil <strong>and</strong> plant matter may dispose excessive users torespiratory problems.Conclusion <strong>and</strong> RecommendationsThe four leading diseases (Malaria, Typhoid, RTI <strong>and</strong> diarrhoea) inSaboba district can be seen as environmental diseases, wherein <strong>the</strong> firsttwo, Malaria (50.6%) <strong>and</strong> Typhoid (12%) are <strong>water</strong>-related (Table 4 <strong>and</strong>5). Though, <strong>the</strong> third ranked disease, RTI (9.9%) is environmental, it isnot directly related to <strong>water</strong>. The study identified lack <strong>of</strong> access to clean<strong>water</strong>, pipe system interruptions, presence <strong>of</strong> stagnant <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> freerangedefecation as <strong>the</strong> major causes <strong>of</strong> high environmental diseases in<strong>the</strong> district. Below are <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r findings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> research.Spatial issuesMost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> settlements in <strong>the</strong> district are sited along <strong>the</strong> River Otidrainage system. Disease prevalence, pressing environmental problems<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir solutions differ from place to place. The study also identifiedthat <strong>the</strong>re is an inverse significant correlation (at 0.01 levels) betweenincidences <strong>of</strong> Malaria, Typhoid <strong>and</strong> RTI on one h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> distances tomajor town on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. However, <strong>the</strong> correlation between <strong>the</strong> former<strong>and</strong> distances to <strong>water</strong>courses, roads, <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> cover <strong>and</strong>topography have no significant relationship. There are also morereported cases <strong>of</strong> malaria close to road networks in <strong>the</strong> district due topopulation concentration <strong>and</strong> easy access to hospitals <strong>and</strong> clinics. Theexplanations for all <strong>the</strong>se variations have been stated above. In general,<strong>space</strong> as mentioned above have limited effects on <strong>the</strong> incidences <strong>of</strong>environmental diseases, hence <strong>the</strong> stated hypo<strong>the</strong>sis for this study is notwholly acceptable in Saboba district.Pressing environmental problemsThe study found different perceptions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most pressingenvironmental problems <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> most common diseases in <strong>the</strong> district.For <strong>the</strong> district in general, free-range defecation is identified as <strong>the</strong> mostpressing environment problem, followed by lack <strong>of</strong> clean or treated<strong>water</strong>, bushfires, presence <strong>of</strong> stagnant <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> littered environment.Though, <strong>the</strong>re are differences in ranking from each specific area that wasselected, free-range defecation, poor drainage, presence <strong>of</strong> stagnant<strong>water</strong>, lack <strong>of</strong> clean <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> bushfires run across all areas, except inWapuli where shortage <strong>of</strong> <strong>water</strong> is a pressing environmental problem.Housing, toilet facilities <strong>and</strong> sanitationMost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> housing structures in Saboba district are built with mud orearth (Table 23), majority <strong>of</strong> which are in deploring stage, needing repairs53
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