Golidtum, J. P. U. (2015). Solar disinfection technique in decreasing high incidence of acute gastroenteritis among children of Sitio Mesolong, Sto. Nino, Talaingod Davao del Norte (Unpublished master's thesis). Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Graduate School of Public and Development Management Health Systems and Development Batch 5 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

Ata Manobo composed the majority of the constituents in Talaingod, Davao del Norte that lives in the mountains part of this municipality. They consume water directly from the doubtful sources and from the unregulated level I sources without applying any household water treatment and storage (HWTS). Sanitation and hygiene practices are poor and undesirable resulting to the high incidence of water borne diseases most specifically acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. Cultural belief and traditional way of living somehow hinder them from using any form of methodologies. A method that is applicable to them should be culture sensitive, easy to use, cheap and sustainable. Hence, the introduction of solar disinfection (SODIS) as another form of HWTS in reducing the hogh incidence of AGE suffered by their children. Thus, this study aims to assess the SODIS technique in reducing high incidence of water borne diseases among children less than 5 years old in Sitio Mesolong, Barangay Sto. Nino, Talaingod, Dagvao del Norte. Specifically, this study aims to identify the factors that contribute to the high incidence of water borne diseases in the area, to assess the difference in the bacterial colony count between untreated water and water treated with SODIS, and to assess the difference between drinking water without applying HWTS and SODIS treated water in reducing AGE in children enrolled in day care center. The focus of the study is the three level I water sources of Sitio Cuyas,. Cabadiangan and Mesolong andf the 30 day care students of Sitio Mesolong. This study will only determine the contributing factors to a high incidence of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children of Sitio Mesolong. The status of the children particularly immunization, vitamin A supplementation, and deworming as well as children with chronic diseases are excluded. The development of water supply and hygiene practices are not included. SODIS treatment process consists of placing water into transparent plastic PET bottles which are then exposed to the sun for 6 hours then keep in depository for 24 hours. Water bacteriological analysis was conducted before the start of SODIS , after 6 hours of SODIS, and after 24 hours stored in depository. Thirty day care students were identified and examined clinically and subjected for stool examination. Weekly follow up was done for 4 weeks and another stool examination at the end of the observation. Of the 202 households in sitio Mesolong, 100% consume water from un-potable sources and only 26% has sanitary toilet, proper waste disposal, and practice acceptable hygiene. The three level I watwer sources have reduced bacterial colony count after SODIS treatment but no significant difference was seen between time interval. Furthermore, during introduction of SODIS, eleven children suffered from AGE before drinking SODIS treated water and significantly decreased to 3 after drinking SODOS treated water. Hence, solar disinfection is effective in reducing the incidence of AGE in children of Talaingod, Davao del Norte.