IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i11p1429-d1508353.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Review of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Rural, Remote, and Resource-Constrained Settings Internationally: Insights for Implementation, Research, and Policy for First Nations in Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica Annan

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada)

  • Rita Henderson

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada)

  • Mandi Gray

    (Department of Sociology, Trent University, Oshawa, NG11 8NS, Canada
    Current address: Department of Sociology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.)

  • Rhonda Gail Clark

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Geomicrobiology Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N5, Canada)

  • Chris Sarin

    (Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Alberta Region, Canada Place, Suite 730 9700, Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3, Canada)

  • Kerry Black

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is regarded as a support tool for detecting and assessing the prevalence of infectious diseases at a population level. For rural, remote, and resource-constrained communities with little access to other public health monitoring tools, WBE can be a low-cost approach to filling gaps in population health knowledge to inform public health risk assessment and decision-making. This rapid review explores and discusses unique considerations of WBE in key settings, with a focus on the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has rapidly expanded WBE infrastructure globally. To frame our understanding of possibilities for WBE with First Nations in Alberta, we address the following questions: What are the unique considerations and challenges for WBE under similar contexts in rural, remote, or resource-constrained settings? What are the resources and expertise required to support WBE? This review identifies several unique considerations for WBE in rural, remote, and resource-constrained communities, including costs, accessibility, operator capacity, wastewater infrastructure, and data mobilization—highlighting the need for equity in WBE. In summary, most resource-constrained communities require additional support from external research and/or governmental bodies to undertake WBE.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica Annan & Rita Henderson & Mandi Gray & Rhonda Gail Clark & Chris Sarin & Kerry Black, 2024. "A Review of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Rural, Remote, and Resource-Constrained Settings Internationally: Insights for Implementation, Research, and Policy for First Nati," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:11:p:1429-:d:1508353
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/11/1429/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/11/1429/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maria Catherine B. Otero & Lyre Anni E. Murao & Mary Antoinette G. Limen & Daniel Rev A. Caalim & Paul Lorenzo A. Gaite & Michael G. Bacus & Joan T. Acaso & Refeim M. Miguel & Kahlil Corazo & Ineke E., 2022. "Multifaceted Assessment of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 in Selected Urban Communities in Davao City, Philippines: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-24, July.
    2. Solomon Ali & Esayas Kebede Gudina & Addisu Gize & Abde Aliy & Birhanemeskel Tegene Adankie & Wondwossen Tsegaye & Gadissa Bedada Hundie & Mahteme Bekele Muleta & Tesfaye Rufael Chibssa & Rediet Belai, 2022. "Community Wastewater-Based Surveillance Can Be a Cost-Effective Approach to Track COVID-19 Outbreak in Low-Resource Settings: Feasibility Assessment for Ethiopia Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:11:p:1429-:d:1508353. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.