Study population
The community of Ogale was selected for study based on the UNEP environmental assessment, which identified Ogale as having the most serious groundwater contamination observed in Ogoniland [3]. The community of Eteo was chosen to serve as a reference group because it is near Ogale (approximately 10 miles away), it is part of the same local government area of Eleme, and people living in Eteo and Ogale are comparable with respect to race, language, culture, and behavioral practices. The UNEP environmental assessment did not report any petroleum contamination in Eteo.
A total of 200 adults over the age of 18 were enrolled in this pilot study (100 participants from each community). We employed a stratified random sampling strategy through door-to-door recruitment in three areas of both Ogale and Eteo, approaching individuals in every fifth house. In both communities, we obtained a 98 % response rate. Participants met the following eligibility criteria: 1) residence in the community for a minimum of one year, and 2) no prior history of residence in any other Ogoniland community associated with high levels of petroleum contamination, as reported by UNEP [3].
This study was conducted with approval from local authorities in Ogale and Eteo and from the Institutional Review Board at Boston University Medical Center (reference number: H-32345). Informed consent was obtained from each subject.
Outcome ascertainment
Trained interviewers administered standardized questionnaires in each respondent’s home. These questionnaires were developed for this pilot study and include primarily closed-ended questions regarding demographics, smoking habits, water supply, water safety, current health symptoms and medical history. Participants were asked to report their primary water source and duration of its use for specific household activities: bathing, cooking, washing, drinking, brushing teeth, cleaning the house, and washing clothes, dishes and food. We collected information on primary source water characteristics such as odor and perceived safety. We asked individuals in Ogale who reported receiving emergency government-supplied water about the duration, frequency and sufficiency of water delivery. Participants who reported currently experiencing health issues were asked to list their symptoms; interviewers were careful not to lead participants in the open-ended responses.
Study populationThe community of Ogale was selected for study based on the UNEP environmental assessment, which identified Ogale as having the most serious groundwater contamination observed in Ogoniland [3]. The community of Eteo was chosen to serve as a reference group because it is near Ogale (approximately 10 miles away), it is part of the same local government area of Eleme, and people living in Eteo and Ogale are comparable with respect to race, language, culture, and behavioral practices. The UNEP environmental assessment did not report any petroleum contamination in Eteo.A total of 200 adults over the age of 18 were enrolled in this pilot study (100 participants from each community). We employed a stratified random sampling strategy through door-to-door recruitment in three areas of both Ogale and Eteo, approaching individuals in every fifth house. In both communities, we obtained a 98 % response rate. Participants met the following eligibility criteria: 1) residence in the community for a minimum of one year, and 2) no prior history of residence in any other Ogoniland community associated with high levels of petroleum contamination, as reported by UNEP [3].This study was conducted with approval from local authorities in Ogale and Eteo and from the Institutional Review Board at Boston University Medical Center (reference number: H-32345). Informed consent was obtained from each subject.Outcome ascertainmentTrained interviewers administered standardized questionnaires in each respondent’s home. These questionnaires were developed for this pilot study and include primarily closed-ended questions regarding demographics, smoking habits, water supply, water safety, current health symptoms and medical history. Participants were asked to report their primary water source and duration of its use for specific household activities: bathing, cooking, washing, drinking, brushing teeth, cleaning the house, and washing clothes, dishes and food. We collected information on primary source water characteristics such as odor and perceived safety. We asked individuals in Ogale who reported receiving emergency government-supplied water about the duration, frequency and sufficiency of water delivery. Participants who reported currently experiencing health issues were asked to list their symptoms; interviewers were careful not to lead participants in the open-ended responses.
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