The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70334

Brian Hubbard, MPH¹, John Sarisky, MPH, RS², Virginia Baffigo, MD, MA³, and Richard Gelting, PhD¹. (1) Environmental Health Services Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F-28, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-7098, bnh5@cdc.gov, (2) EHSB, NCEH, CDC, 4770 Buford HWY NE, MS F-28, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, (3) CARE Peru, Apartado Postal 11-0628, Lima, Lima 11, Peru

In June 2000, CARE Peru and CDC initiated a community environmental public health assessment process in Cardozo, Peru using the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE EH). The assessment led to the development of locally appropriate environmental public health indicators that measure an array of environmental conditions, but focus on community priorities, particularly the water supply, and sewage systems. CDC, CARE Peru staff, and local health experts developed a baseline environmental survey to collect information on household supply, storage, treatment, and use of water and the elimination of human waste. In addition, four sanitary survey instruments were developed to assess behaviors and storage practices that can affect water quality. Water samples collected from community and household sources were submitted for microbiological analysis. The baseline survey shows that 26% (52/203) of households obtain drinking water from open wells. Laboratory analysis revealed the presence of fecal (thermotolerant) coliforms in 82% (9/11) of open-well-water samples. The baseline also revealed that 56% (114/203) of homes dispose of human waste directly into their immediate environment. The baseline instrument, sanitary surveys, and microbiological analysis were key data sources for the development of indicators on quality, quantity, coverage, cost, and continuity of the water and sanitation systems. The community environmental public health assessment was key for indicator development and was the basis for planning the environmental public health risk monitoring system for the Cardozo community.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will:
• understand that the PACE EH community environmental public health assessment tool is a guidebook for the community to identify and prioritize environmental health problems, to formulate action plans, and, to monitor performance.
• know the role of the community environmental public health assessment group as a key component of the environmental health assessment process.
• understand how the assessment process is necessary to develop effective intervention plans and monitoring systems.

Keywords: International Health, Environment

Related Web page: www.care.org.pe/satelite/musa/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Continuing collaboration between CARE Peru and the CDC's Environmental health services branch. Project funded by USAID
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.