| Cholera is an acute, diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 or O139. Ingestion of fecally contaminated food and water causes the disease. Various exposures can lead to ingestion of contaminated food and water. A systematic review was performed to determine the exposures associated with cholera. Existing literature on cholera case control studies was examined for the following exposures: (1) Water supply, (2) Water Storage, (3) Water Treatment, (4) Sanitation, (5) Hygiene, (6) Knowledge of cholera prevention, (7) Food, (8) Socioeconomic status, and (9) Other. Exposures that were predicted risk factors were all, as expected, significantly associated with cholera outcome. Exposures predicted as protective were, as expected, protective against the disease but were not significant across all contexts. The results from this review explain exposures associated with cholera in different contexts and are expected to guide policy towards implementing context driven protective factors (interventions). |
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