ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2021
Rat Infestation in Gauteng Province: Lived Experiences of Kathlehong Township Residents.
Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Psychosocial impacts of a mouse plague and ongoing psychological stress.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Incorporating Machine Learning Techniques to Enhance Rodent Surveillance in Marginalized Urban Communities.Ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- The New South Wales Mouse Plague 2020-2021: A One Health description.One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2024Article
- Associations between Rat Infestations and Mental Health Vary by Gender, Race, and Income in Chicago.Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine · 2024Article
- Systematic surveillance tools to reduce rodent pests in disadvantaged urban areas can empower communities and improve public health.Scientific reports · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundRat infestation is a major public health issue globally, and particularly in poor urban communities in South Africa. Rats pose significant threats to residents in the form of disease spread and sustained physical injuries. The dearth of knowledge about the experiences of affected residents may curtail the initiation of rat control programs. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of rat infestation among residents of Katlehong Township in Gauteng Province.
methodsThis was a qualitative research study where data were gathered from selected community participants from Katlehong Township in Gauteng Province. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through in-depth interviews. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim, and thematic data analysis was conducted using NVivo12 data processing software. The data were presented in themes and quotations that reflect the views of the participants.
resultsExactly 20 community members aged between 18 and 56 years participated in the study, 80% being females. Over half of the participants were unemployed (60%), inclusive of students. Majority of the participants were either Zulu or Xhosa speakers. Several themes emerged from the data, which included the residents' experiences of rat infestation, troublesome rats, dirty rats, reasons for rat infestation, and sustained physical injuries. Participants intimated that waste in the environment and overcrowding in homes contributed to rodent infestation.
conclusionRat infestation remains a problem that causes severe distress among the residents of Katlehong Township. The experiences reported varied from psychological trauma to bite injuries and destruction of household property. Effective rodent control strategies need to be put in place to manage both the physical and mental risks posed by rat infestation in socially underprivileged communities.
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