INFLUENCE OF ABATTOIR ON THE HEALTH OF ITS WORKERS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, CASE OF SODEPA ABATTOIR DOUALA, LITTORAL REGION OF CAMEROON

Abstract
Background of the study: Abattoirs are known all over the world to pollute the environment either directly or indirectly during various daily operations.

The numerous waste and microbial organisms disposed during abattoir operation due to lack effective waste disposal system and low level of awareness results in air and water pollution consequently leading to health complains of neighborhood communities.

Also, the proximity to animal such as livestock slaughtered in abattoir can lead to what are known as zoonotic diseases or zoonosis. Among several zoonotic diseases, bovine TB is the most prevalent in livestock, cattle and it’s highly contagious.

Thus the main objective of this study was to examine the influence of an abattoir on the health of its workers and communities living in its vicinity.
Objectives:

This study seek to determine the prevalence of bovine Tuberculosis among slaughterhouse workers in SODEPA, Douala; to identify the proportion of slaughterhouse workers and nearby communities having proper knowledge on zoonotic diseases; and to determine the proportion of communities living within the abattoir vicinity practicing proper hygiene and sanitation.
Material and Methods:

A sequential cross-sectional study design was used.

A survey shall be conducted among communities leaving around the abattoir and slaughterhouse workers using a structured questionnaire.

Slaughterhouse workers were tested for Bovine tuberculosis and its prevalence determined.

A focus group discussion was organized; household were selected using systematic sampling technique.

Data entry shall be done using MS-Excel 2013, EPI INFO version 7 and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0 was used for data analysis.
Results: By the end of this study the investigator was able to determine in which way the activities of the abattoir influence the health of its workers and surrounding communities.

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of The Study
The provision of basic facilities and services in cities and neighborhoods is crucial to the sustainability and health state of the population

[1].However, the disadvantage of locating some of these facilities in residential neighborhoods sometimes outweighs their advantages

[2]. Abattoir is one of such facilities. Abattoirs are known all over the world to pollute the environment either directly or indirectly during various daily operations

[3]. The proximity to animal such as livestock slaughtered in abattoir can lead to what are known as zoonotic diseases.

WHO in 1959 defined zoonosis as “those diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man”.

Zoonosis include only those infections where there is either a proof or a strong circumstantial evidence for transmission between animals and man.

Most human infections with zoonosis come from livestock, including pigs, chickens, cattle, goats, sheep and camels

[4]. According to WHO, about 60% of all human diseases worldwide and 75% of all emerging infectious diseases are of zoonotic origin.

In developing countries, nearly three-quarters of rural people and about one-third of the urban people depend on livestock for food, income, manure and other services, researches have shown that 63% of livestock are infected with zoonotic diseases

[5]. Also, the numerous waste and microbial organisms disposed during abattoir operation due to lack effective waste disposal system results in air and water pollution consequently leading to health complains of neighborhood communities.

Human activities like working with animals and in their sheds, improper disposal of waste from animal sheds, skinning of infected animals, slaughtering of diseased animals, disposal of infective material from the diseased animals and poor personal hygiene practices have been reported to be important risk factors contributing to frequent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases in humans

[6].The health of workers in facilities such as abattoirs are at high risk of contracting these zoonotic diseases given that they are the closest to the animals and animal products. Zoonotic diseases of public health importance include; Rabies, bovine tuberculosis, anthrax, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis, scabies, superficial dermatophytes

[7]. Slaughter inspection records from major cities revealed that BTB is the most common zoonotic disease among livestock. Bovine tuberculosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease of livestock and can easily be transmitted to the workers during the slaughtering process if proper hygiene measures are not observed

[8]. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is widespread but poorly controlled in Africa and M. bovis is posing threats to human health

[9]. The main objective of this study was to examine the influence of abattoir on the health of its workers and communities living in its vicinity.

Slaughter houses also suffer from very low hygienic standards posing major public health and environmental hazards due to discrete disposal of waste and highly polluted effluent discharge

[10]. According to Chukwu et al (2011), little interest has been shown to the effects of wastes from abattoirs to the environment.

They further stated that due to low awareness of the effects of abattoirs, it is very common to see people sinking shallow wells close to them.

These shallow wells would draw contaminated water from the surrounding aquifer especially if the radius of influence of the well spans into the abattoir ground.
Studies have also shown that most slaughterhouse workers have very low educational level, thus can lack the necessary knowledge on prevention and transmission of zoonotic diseases [11]. A study carried out in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia shown that these polluted effluents contains several infectious agents which can be pathogenic to humans

[12].Pathogens present in animal carcasses or shed in animal wastes may include rotaviruses, hepatitis E virus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter spp, Cryptosporidium partum, Mycobacterium sop and Giardia labia

[13,14] these zoonotic pathogen can exceed millions to billions per gram of faces and may infect humans through various routes such as contaminated air, contact with livestock animals or their waste products, exposure to potential vectors (such as flies, mosquitoes, water fowl, and rodents), or consumption of food or water contaminated by animal wastes

[15].The consequences of infection by pathogens originating from animal wastes can range from temporary morbidity to mortality, especially in high-risk individuals

[16].

1.2 Statement Of The Problem
With the rapid growth and expansion of residential areas in Cameroon and other land uses like industrial, commercial, educational institutions, and health centers, there is a growing problem of overcrowding and congestion around abattoir centers and facilities

[17].The growing population is at high risk of developing infectious diseases of zoonotic origin due to their closeness with animals as well as infections associated with the poor waste management from the abattoir.
Also, poor personal hygiene is another problem in this environment; the slaughterhouse workers don’t make proper use of their personal protective equipment during working hours. This has been identified to be an occupational health risk for infections and even when they do use it, they keep it very dirty.

This increases their risk of contracting zoonotic infections.

The degrading state of the abattoir and its equipment’s can be a possible source of ill health or other hazards especially to the workers in these facilities.

Also, many abattoirs dispose of their effluents directly into streams and rivers without any form of treatment, and the slaughtered meat is washed in the same water [18].

Major modern diseases such as Ebola virus disease and salmonellosis are zoonosis (WHO).

HIV was a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans in the early part of the 20th century, though it has now evolved to a separate human-only disease.

Most strains of influenza that infect humans are human diseases, although many strains of swine and bird flu are zoonosis; these viruses occasionally recombine with human strains of the flu and can cause pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu or the 2009 swine flu.

Recently, researchers have found that 13 so-called zoonosis are responsible for 2.2 million human deaths every year [17].

The prevalence of diseases of zoonotic origin as of now is still very high (75%) and the knowledge on these diseases very low, less research has been carried out in this area, especially in Cameroon.

1.3 Justification of Study
Infectious diseases are the second cause of deaths in developing countries, Cameroon included (63%), and 75% of these infectious diseases are of zoonotic origin and also include diseases associated with poor waste management such as malaria, diarrhea, cholera, dysentery and typhoid

[18]. The consequences of infections caused by pathogens originating from animal wastes can range from temporary morbidity to mortality, especially in high-risk individuals.

Facilities such as abattoirs are primary source of bacteria in faces and this can result to ill-health of the communities in the absence of proper education and sensitization.
As in the case of SODEPA abattoir Douala, animal’s parts (horns, skin, hides and bones) are seen strewn all over the fields and open places, dogs and vultures could be seen preying over these wretched remains; dirt festering; animal blood, water and debris is directly disposed into quarters.

Thus, there is need for proper implementation of hygiene and sanitation measures not just for the workers in abattoir but to the surrounding community as a whole.

This will greatly reduce the burden of infectious diseases and consequently numbers of death in our country.

Thus this study seeks to access the influence of abattoir management on the health of its workers and communities living in its vicinity thereby proposing feasible solutions or recommendations to the problems faced, case of SODEPA abattoir Douala, Cameroon.

1.4 Research Questions
What are the effects of activities of SODEPA abattoir Douala on the health of its workers and surrounding communities?
What proportion of slaughterhouse workers and individuals living in surrounding communities has correct knowledge on zoonotic infections?
Among those living in the abattoir vicinity, what proportion practice proper hygiene and sanitation?
What is the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis among slaughterhouse workers in bonadale SODEPA abattoir Douala, and people living in surrounding communities?

1.5 Research Hypotheses
H1: Abattoir activities have a negative effect on the health of its workers and surrounding communities.
H2: A small proportion of slaughterhouse workers and individuals living in communities around the abattoir have correct knowledge on zoonotic infections.
H3: A low proportion of slaughterhouse workers and individuals living around the abattoir, practice proper hygiene and sanitation.
H4: The presence of the abattoir influences the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis among slaughterhouse workers of SODEPA Douala, and individuals living in the surrounding community.