2nd Edition of Public Health World Conference (PHWC) 2026

Abstract

Typhoid fever remains a significant public health problem in coastal and island communities, primarily due to limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation facilities, inconsistent hygiene practices, and the influence of local cultural traditions. This literature review integrates recent epidemiological data and field observations from Lombok, Indonesia, to explore risk factors with a particular focus on socio-cultural aspects. The findings indicate that, beyond infrastructural deficiencies, traditional practices such as eating with bare hands and sharing meals from a common container (begibung) may increase the risk of fecal–oral transmission. Furthermore, the reliance on traditional medicine often leads to delays in diagnosis and medical treatment. Similar studies in other island settings, such as Fiji and Samoa, highlight that infrastructural improvements alone are insufficient without concurrent behavioral changes within the community. Therefore, this review underscores the importance of integrated interventions that include the provision of clean water, improvement of sanitation facilities, culturally sensitive health education, and enhanced surveillance systems to sustainably control typhoid fever in coastal populations.