Liaising Water Resources Consumption, Urban Sanitation and Cholera Epidemics in Douala, Cameroon: A Community Vulnerability Assessment

Abstract

The occurrence of cholera on the Atlantic coast of Cameroon, especially in Douala is not just a public health crisis but a humanitarian disaster as well. From 2010 to 2012, 23,000 people contracted cholera of which 843 died. Based on a field inventory (2010, 2011 and 2012 epidemiological periods), this study posits that, cholera endemic heavily impacts the younger age groups, with the young adult and adult age groups being the most vulnerable. As concerns sex, the males are far more vulnerable than females. Cholera risk factors such as slum settlements, lack of proper social amenities and services, for example, potable water; drainage; waste collection; hygiene and sanitation facilities, are generally spread throughout the Atlantic coast, though characterized by glaring unevenness. Social characteristics not generally considered in public health strategies, including: attitudes towards hygiene and sanitation; limited knowledge of diseases/cholera transmission mechanisms, as well as “magico-religious” beliefs on the origins of cholera, are, however reasons for the high vulnerability to cholera and/or major hindrances to effective mitigation. Though there appears to be a direct relationship between the existence of cholera risk factors and community vulnerability, it might be deduced that social attitudes and beliefs are the bridge linking these two concepts.

Keywords: Water resources consumption, Cholera epidemics, Sanitation, Community vulnerability