Socio-economic and environmental factors and human health example of cholera El Tor in Manila.

The environmental health factors relevant to the occurrence of cholera in an urban milieu (Manila) have been studied. Cholera has been found to be a disease significantly more prevalent in the areas with lowest environmental condition. Association have been found between the disease incidence and several socioeconomic variables: population density, water and sewer connections each per 1000 population and squatter/slum dweller density. The correlation between cholera incidence and population density was found to be statistically significant at 5% level. A multiple regression analysis showed that the variations in cholera incidence were explained to the extent of 53.23% by the three variables-population density, water and sewer connections. In a check, using data for several years, positive correlations were found between incidence rates and the number of persons per sanitary facility, overcrowding, and density per square kilometer. The association between cholera and the low levels of socioeconomic conditions has been examined in a detailed study of a sample of 711 patients during the cholera season 1971-72. The socioeconomic profile of the sample places the patients in the least affluent part of the community. - The paper points out the need for priority of urban redevelopment in areas of maximum health risk.