Abstract
There is growing evidence that household water treatment interventions improve microbiological water quality and reduce diarrheal disease risk. Few studies have examined, however, the impact of water treatment interventions on household-level hygiene and sanitation. This study examined the association of four water and sanitation conditions (access to latrines, improved sanitation, improved water and the plastic biosand filter) on the levels of total coliforms and E. coli on existing and introduced toys during an on-going randomized controlled trial of the plastic biosand filter (plastic BSF). The following conditions were associated with decreased bacterial contamination on children’s toys: access to a latrine, access to improved sanitation and access to the plastic BSF. Overall, compared to existing toys, introduced toys had significantly lower levels of both E. coli and total coliforms. Results suggest that levels of fecal indicator bacteria contamination on children’s toys may be associated with access to improved water and sanitation conditions in the home. In addition, the fecal indicator bacteria levels on toys probably vary with duration in the household. Additional information on how these toys become contaminated is needed to determine the usefulness of toys as indicators or sentinels of water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, behaviors and risks.
Highlights
Lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene is estimated to contribute more than 5% of the global burden of disease [1]
In the water filter randomized controlled trials (RCT) [13], a total of 174 households were participating at the time of the pilot toy study, of which 89 households had plastic BSFs and 85 control households did not have them
All of these households were approached to participate in the study of bacterial contamination of children’s toys, and during the initial visit, a total 66 control households (78%) and 71 BSF households (80%)
Summary
Lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene is estimated to contribute more than 5% of the global burden of disease [1]. For the past two decades, researchers have built a growing body of evidence suggesting that household-level interventions in water, sanitation and hygiene can significantly reduce diarrheal disease and improve drinking water quality [3]. This study was designed to test the use of children’s toys as a measure of fecal bacterial contamination in households within an existing randomized controlled trial (water filter RCT). Leveraging the opportunity presented by the water filter RCT, we were able to expand data collection as a pilot study on the microbial quality of household children’s toys The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of collecting existing toys from households in rural Honduras as well as the utility of using introduced toys as measures of household fomite bacterial contamination. Can we detect differences in the fecal bacteria quality of toys between households with and without access to water and sanitation improvements, such as the plastic BSF?
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
