Browsing by Author "Mouri, Hassina"

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  • Publication
    Publication
    Occurrence of fluorosis in a population living in a high-fluoride groundwater area: Nakuru area in the Central Kenyan Rift Valley
    (Springer Nature, 2019-09-01) Gevera, Patrick; Mouri, Hassina; Maronga, Godfrey
    Endemic fluorosis caused by the consumption of high-fluoride groundwater is a public health problem in Nakuru, in the Kenyan Rift Valley. The present study was carried out during the period January–February 2017 to determine the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among patients of two Nakuru healthcare facilities, namely St. Mary’s Hospital-Gilgil and Egerton University-Njoro Dental Clinic. The patients consisted of both young and old members of the Nakuru population served with groundwater containing high levels of fluoride ranging from 0.1 to 72 mg/l. The Thylstrup–Fejerskov (TF) index was used to estimate the severity of dental fluorosis. Among the patients of St. Mary’s Hospital-Gilgil, the prevalence of dental fluorosis was 86% (n = 100), whereby 54% of the patients were found to have mild to moderate dental fluorosis and 32% had severe dental fluorosis. Whereas the prevalence of dental fluorosis in patients below the age of 14 years was higher (92%) than in older patients (85.56%), severity was reversed (average TF = 3.77 for older patients; average TF = 2.18 for younger patients). No significant variation in severity and prevalence of dental fluorosis was recorded with respect to both genders of the patients. The dental fluorosis prevalence rate amongst the patients of the Egerton University-Njoro Dental Clinic was found to be 79.49% (n = 73). However, a comparative analysis of the two age groups revealed a much higher prevalence rate of 100% for patients below the age of 14 relative to the older patients (79.49%). While a high number of cases of dental fluorosis from both healthcare facilities were reported in patients residing in Njoro, Nakuru town, Gilgil and Bahati, the fewer cases were from Solai and Rongai. The results seem to suggest a much higher occurrence of dental fluorosis within the younger population group. This implies that rapid population growth and urbanization puts more pressure on public water resources which leads to a strong reliance on fluoride contaminated groundwater and the concomitant increased cases of dental fluorosis. Therefore, there is a need for a change of local government policy to enhance access to safe water and public education on fluorosis in the areas that were under investigation.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Public Knowledge and Perception of Drinking Water Quality and Its Health Implications: An Example from the Makueni County, South-Eastern Kenya
    (MDPI, 2022-04-09) Gevera, Patrick Kirita; Dowling, Kim; Gikuma-Njuru, Peter; Mouri, Hassina
    Due to the semi-arid nature of Makueni County in South-Eastern Kenya, there is a high dependence on groundwater resources for domestic use. Reliance on this source of potable water may have health implications for the population, given the presence of several naturally occurring and potentially harmful elements reported from aquifer source rocks, soil, and water in the area. A survey involving questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted with 115 individuals to determine the local population’s knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of their drinking water quality and its health impacts. The results show that most respondents (67%) preferred piped water because it was pre-treated and not saline. Only 29% of the respondents were very satisfied with the taste of their drinking water, while the rest complained about varying salinity levels, ranging from slightly salty to very salty. This low satisfaction might have influenced the low daily drinking water consumption (1–2 L) by most respondents. Health issues reported by many (43%) respondents in the area include diarrhoea and gastrointestinal upsets, which may be associated with the saline nature of the drinking water. Elevated fluoride (F−) in the local groundwater was reported, and the health effects remain a concern. Although 91% knew someone with dental fluorosis, 53% did not know the deleterious effects of high F− in drinking water. Most respondents (59%) associated the salty nature of the water with dental fluorosis, and as a result, 48% avoided drinking the salty water to prevent the condition. Despite the high prevalence and known psycho-social effects, most people did not perceive dental fluorosis as a severe health threat. The increased health risks associated with high salinity and high F− in drinking water in Makueni County are poorly understood by most residents, regardless of their education, gender, or age. This warrants an immediate public health education programme and detailed epidemiological studies to determine all the health effects associated with naturally occurring, potentially harmful elements in groundwater in the area.