Impact of rural environmental hygiene on gastrointestinal symptoms of population in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
ZHANG Wenyu1, JIA Xinrui1, GAO Sheng2, YIN Minghui2, LI Huan1, YUE Xuanzhi1, WU Duoduo3, LI Jing1,2, FAN Yaochun1,2
1. Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010059, China; 2. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010080, China; 3. Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014040, China
Abstract：Objective To investigate the current status of rural residents' living environmental hygiene and hygienic behavior habits in Inner Mongolia, to explore the factors affecting gastrointestinal symptoms, and to provide a scientific basis and data support for further improving environmental hygiene in rural areas. Methods A survey was conducted from July to September, 2021. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 660 administrative villages from the whole Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to serve as the monitoring sites, and 5 representative rural households were chosen from each monitoring site for a household survey. SPSS26.0 software was employed to conduct chi-square test and logistic regression analysis for the data obtained. Results Totally 3,220 pieces of valid data were collected, 2,065 households adopted centralized water supply (64.13%), 3,119 households chose boiled water (96.86%), and 1,250 households used sanitary toilets (38.82%). Rat traces, flies and cockroach traces were found in 251(7.80%) households' kitchens, 1,428(44.35%) households and 50(1.55%)households. Multivariate regression analysis displayed that the use of centralized water supply and sanitary toilet utilization wereprotective factors for the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms (OR=0.384, 95%CI:0.246-0.601; OR=0.391, 95%CI:0.228-0.672), while cockroach stains in the kitchen were the risk factor (OR=4.635, 95%CI:1.760-12.205). Conclusion Environmental hygiene problems and poor living habits still widely exist in the rural areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is necessary to conduct publicity and education on environmental hygiene knowledge, continuously promote the work of toilet improvement, and strengthen thework regardingelimination of pathogenic organisms. Farmers should develop good hygiene habits and maintain kitchen hygiene.
2024, Vol. 31 
