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The relationship between in-home water service and the risk of respiratory tract, skin, and gastrointestinal tract infections among rural Alaska Natives

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  • Hennessy, T.W.
  • Ritter, T.
  • Holman, R.C.
  • Bruden, D.L.
  • Yorita, K.L.
  • Bulkow, L.
  • Cheek, J.E.
  • Singleton, R.J.
  • Smith, J.

Abstract

Objectives. We investigated the relationship between the presence of in-home piped water and wastewater services and hospitalization rates for respiratory tract, skin, and gastrointestinal tract infections in rural Alaska. Methods. We determined in-home water service and hospitalizations for selected infectious diseases among Alaska Natives by region during 2000 to 2004. Within 1 region, infant respiratory hospitalizations and skin infections for all ages were compared by village-level water services. Results. Regions with a lower proportion of home water service had significantly higher hospitalization rates for pneumonia and influenza (rate ratio [RR]=2.5), skin or soft tissue infection (RR=1.9), and respiratory syncytial virus (RR=3.4 among those younger than 5 years) than did higher-service regions. Within 1 region, infants from villages with less than 10% of homes served had higher hospitalization rates for pneumonia (RR=1.3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RR=1.2) than did infants from villages with more than 80% served. Outpatient Staphylococcus aureus infections (RR=5.1, all ages) and skin infection hospitalizations (RR=2.7, all ages) were higher in low-service than in high-service villages. Conclusions. Higher respiratory and skin infection rates were associated with a lack of in-home water service. This disparity should be addressed through sanitation infrastructure improvements.

Suggested Citation

  • Hennessy, T.W. & Ritter, T. & Holman, R.C. & Bruden, D.L. & Yorita, K.L. & Bulkow, L. & Cheek, J.E. & Singleton, R.J. & Smith, J., 2008. "The relationship between in-home water service and the risk of respiratory tract, skin, and gastrointestinal tract infections among rural Alaska Natives," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(11), pages 2072-2078.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2007.115618_9
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.115618
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    Cited by:

    1. Nirmalla Barros & Nicolle S. Tulve & Ken Bailey & Daniel T. Heggem, 2018. "Outdoor Air Emissions, Land Use, and Land Cover around Schools on Tribal Lands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. O'Gorman, Melanie, 2021. "Mental and physical health impacts of water/sanitation infrastructure in First Nations communities in Canada: An analysis of the Regional Health Survey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    3. Daley, Kiley & Castleden, Heather & Jamieson, Rob & Furgal, Chris & Ell, Lorna, 2015. "Water systems, sanitation, and public health risks in remote communities: Inuit resident perspectives from the Canadian Arctic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 124-132.
    4. Patricia Cochran & Orville Huntington & Caleb Pungowiyi & Stanley Tom & F. Chapin & Henry Huntington & Nancy Maynard & Sarah Trainor, 2013. "Indigenous frameworks for observing and responding to climate change in Alaska," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 120(3), pages 557-567, October.
    5. Sandeep S. Nerkar & Ashok J. Tamhankar & Eva Johansson & Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg, 2016. "Impact of Integrated Watershed Management on Complex Interlinked Factors Influencing Health: Perceptions of Professional Stakeholders in a Hilly Tribal Area of India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Eichelberger, Laura, 2019. "Recognizing the dynamics of household water insecurity in the rapidly changing polar north: Expected uncertainties in access, quality, and consumption patterns in Niugtaq (Newtok), Alaska," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 16(C).

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