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Access to clean water and urinary tract infections in Haitian women
Author(s) -
Andersen Lucy,
Dowdell Elizabeth Burgess
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12660
Subject(s) - medicine , urinary system , environmental health , clean water , developing country , medical record , retrospective cohort study , biology , ecology , engineering , waste management
Objectives Access to clean water is a global concern. For women living in developing countries, the lack of clean water increases their risk of bacterial infections, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI). The purpose of this study was to examine if the location of water source has a relationship with the rate of UTIs in women who lived in the Léogâne area of Haiti. Design Descriptive, correlational, retrospective chart review used de‐identified data from medical intake flow sheets. Sample A total of 311 medical intake flowsheets with 32.4% of the sample were treated for a UTI. The majority of women were between the ages of 20 and 44 years. Results The youngest group, ages 10–14 years, were more likely (83.3%) to be diagnosed with a UTI ( X 2 = 7.956, df = 3, p < .05) when compared to the other age groups. The location of water source also had a relationship with UTI, with women who reported using pump water more likely to be treated for a UTI than those who reported using short‐well water ( X 2 = 4.318, df = 1, p < .05). Conclusions Although the study only involved Haitian women, the concepts of access to clean water, reducing bacterial infections such as a UTI, and health promotion are useful for any provider practicing in or going to a developing country.