Assessment of the humanitarian response to cholera in wash interventions

Abstract

Background: The humanitarian response to a cholera outbreak in a complex international crisis requires guaranteeing minimum conditions so that normalcy can be restored. Basic responses to a cholera outbreak include water and sanitation. The general objective of this systematic review was the analysis of the current evidence that addresses the effectiveness of different WASH measures to control cholera.

Methods: A review and analysis of the literature available in the main databases (PubMed, WoS and Scopus)  and in a specific meta-search engine for humanitarian aid was carried out (reliefweb.int). Based on the establishment of the PICO research question “Can beneficiaries of humanitarian aid benefit from water, hygiene and sanitation interventions for cholera reduction?”, the identification of keywords and databases to carry out the searches, as well as a selection process based on the established eligibility criteria: being studies in both English and Spanish where the WASH intervention was clearly defined, studies where health outcomes of cholera were presented, or data related to the function and use of the WASH intervention, was established.

Results: The initial search provided 17,185 documents susceptible of analysis that were screened using the search criteria, up to 22 references that were read in full text and the 11 that were finally analyzed. These were coded based on the measures set out in their protocols, on the interventions carried out in the improvement of water and its supply, the improvement of sanitation, the measures aimed at better hygiene and those that evaluated the complete WASH intervention.

Conclusions: All the measures offered positive results, their effectiveness was conditioned by the education of the beneficiaries, the simplicity of the activities and the involvement of local actors.