Abstract:
In most developing countries, availability of pipe borne water is insufficient and most people
are left to find other means of water from wells, streams, boreholes for domestic uses which
may consequently lead to the contamination and spread of water borne diseases since they are
not usually treated before usage. The aim of the study is to evaluate spatial incidence, spread,
pattern, intensity and distribution of waterborne diseases in Ile-Ife.
In order to adequately analyze the spatial analysis of water borne disease, the socio-economic
condition of residents was determined. Incidence of waterborne disease from 2008 to 2011
was acquired from health care facilities in the study area. The spread and intensity was
revealed using a geo-coding technique. Potency of water borne disease was affirmed by
carrying out microbial analysis on water samples collected randomly from wells and
vulnerability of water borne disease was determined in Ile-Ife.
Socio-economic analysis revealed that most houses were made from mud with 37% of
respondents confirming it, most households contain 8 to 10 persons, income ranging from
1000 to 5000 naira per month, most prevalent occupation is trading and 74% of the
respondents do not treat their water. This is an indication of a poor standard of living and a
more likely occurrence of water borne disease. The spread of water borne disease was
visualized through geo-coding process and it was evident that congested and integral part of
Ile-Ife had high incidence of water borne diseases. Typhoid fever is the most prevalent water
borne disease next to diarrhorea. The most susceptible age group was from 15years to 45
years and the most susceptible sex is female. Water samples revealed high counts of microorganism
with 2.4x10E8 and only six of the 24 sample had no microbial growth in it and the
total hardness revealed values as high as 452 meaning that the water samples are also hard.
Vulnerability analysis revealed that places such as Modakeke, Opa, Okerewe, Akarabata,
Itasin and famia road are the most vulnerable to water borne disease.
