[Verified Answer]: As a public health researcher in a small…

As a public health researcher in a small rural community near a manufacturing plant. Over the past few months, there have been reports of residents experiencing gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Concerns about the quality of the community’s water supply have been raised, mainly since the manufacturing plant is known to discharge waste into nearby water bodies. (a) Identify the critical epidemiological questions that need to be addressed to investigate the potential link between water contamination and the increased incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses in the community. (b) Design a cross-sectional study to assess the association between water contamination and the prevalence of gastrointestinal illnesses in the community. Outline the study design by including: I. sampling methods II. data collection procedures, and III. exposure and outcome measures. Discuss potential sources of bias and confounding in your study design and propose FOUR strategies to minimise their impact