82 percent of population at risk of diarrheal diseases: Study

E. coli found even in bottled water sold in jars

KATHMANDU, Feb 26: Eighty-two percent of the population of the country is vulnerable to the diarrheal diseases, as per the findings of Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey (NIMCS).

The nation-wide study was carried out in 2014 jointly by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the Government of Nepal and the UNICEF.

E. coli, a bacteria that lives in human intestine, has been found in excessive levels in the household drinking water, the report unveiled by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on Thursday, shows.

Doctors say that some types of E. coli cause intestinal infections. Symptoms of intestinal infections include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. More severe cases can lead to bloody diarrhea, dehydration, or even kidney failure.

People with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, young children, as well as older adults are at an increased risk of developing these complications.

In the study, 1,557 water samples were taken from 519 clusters across the country. The samples comprised of the same water that families give their children to drink.

"Seventy-one percent of household population is at risk of E. coli infections due to the presence of the bacteria in drinking water," the report said.

Similarly, the quality of water was more likely to be poor in rural households, at 73 percent, than in urban households, at 63 percent.

E.coli bacteria were also found in the water supplied in jars that are widely used by households in the urban areas of the country.

Likewise, only one out of 10 households that participated in the study said that they treat water meant for drinking purpose.

Improved sanitation can reduce diarrheal diseases by more than one-third and can substantially lessen adverse health impacts, health experts say. "Households without a hand-washing facility had higher risks of E. coli infections than the households with a hand washing facility," the report stated.

30 percent children underweight

One in three children under the age of five across the country is still underweight, implying that 30 of them either don't get nutritious food or fall ill repeatedly.

Among the 30 percent, nine percent have been classified as severely underweight.

More than one-third or 37 percent were found to be moderately stunted and 16 percent severely stunted. Similarly 11 percent were found severely wasted.

The study shows slight improvement in overall nutrition status compared to the previous report of National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS-2011) that showed 41 percent of the children below the age of five as underweight.