Household Perceptions, Beliefs Household Perceptions, Beliefs And Practices Regarding Safe And Practices Regarding Safe

Water In PakistanWater In Pakistan

Dr. Dr. MubinaMubina Agboatwalla (1)Agboatwalla (1)Maria Maria FegueroaFegueroa (2)(2)

Mr. Faisal Sarwari (1), Mr. Mr. Faisal Sarwari (1), Mr. AsifAsif Ahmed (1)Ahmed (1)Ms. Ms. ZahidaZahida KhanumKhanum (1), Ms. (1), Ms. BadrunBadrun NisaNisa (1)(1)

1. Health Oriented Preventive Education (HOPE), Pakistan

2. CCP, JHUPH, Bloomberg, USA

Safe Water CouncilSafe Water Council

Safe Water Council launched in Pakistan in May 2004 Safe Water Council launched in Pakistan in May 2004 with the objective of promoting practice of treating with the objective of promoting practice of treating drinking water at the household level and proper storage drinking water at the household level and proper storage practices at the household level. Program activities practices at the household level. Program activities included media advertisement about water purification included media advertisement about water purification practices. Community based activities complimented practices. Community based activities complimented media promotion. This included community dialogue and media promotion. This included community dialogue and promotion of sustained water treatment.promotion of sustained water treatment.

ObjectivesObjectives

To measureTo measure1.1. Perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and practices Perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and practices

related to water treatment.related to water treatment.2.2. Barriers and facilitators to sustain water Barriers and facilitators to sustain water

treatment.treatment.3.3. Perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and practices Perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and practices

related to related to PuRPuR..

Household Interviews From 60 Households From Household Interviews From 60 Households From Four Low Socio Economic CommunitiesFour Low Socio Economic Communities

•• Urban CommunitiesUrban Communities1. 1. GulbaharGulbahar 1515 Households Households 2. 2. FaqirFaqir Colony Colony 1515 HouseholdsHouseholds

•• Rural CommunitiesRural Communities1. 1. DhabejeeDhabejee 1515 HouseholdsHouseholds2. 2. KathoreKathore 1515 HouseholdsHouseholds

•• 11 Urban and Urban and 11 Rural Community with safe Rural Community with safe water promotional activities.water promotional activities.

•• 11 Urban and Urban and 11 Rural Community with no Rural Community with no promotional activities.promotional activities.

Literacy LevelLiteracy Level nn %%

3030

55

77

1515

55

nn

2828

2424

77

11

•• Illiterate Illiterate 5050

•• 11--3 Years of Primary School3 Years of Primary School 55

•• 44--5 Years of Primary School5 Years of Primary School 11.711.7

•• 66--10 Years of Primary School10 Years of Primary School 2525

•• 1111--12 Years of College12 Years of College 8.38.3

No of ChildrenNo of Children %%

Less then 5 yearsLess then 5 years

•• 1 Child1 Child 46.746.7

•• 2 Children2 Children 4040

•• 3 Children3 Children 11.711.7

•• 4 Children4 Children 1.71.7

Sources Of Drinking WaterSources Of Drinking Water

SourcesSources UrbanUrban RuralRural

nn %% nn %%

Faucet within houseFaucet within house 2020 66.666.6 1919 63.363.3

Community tapCommunity tap 22 6.66.6 -- --

Tanker waterTanker water 1010 33.333.3 -- --

WellWell -- -- 88 26.626.6

Type Of Water Given To ChildrenType Of Water Given To Children

UrbanUrban RuralRural

nn %% nn %%

Bottled waterBottled water 11 3.33.3 11 3.33.3

Boiled waterBoiled water 99 3030 44 13.313.3

PuRPuR waterwater 33 1010 33 1010

Untreated waterUntreated water 1616 53.353.3 1818 6060

Water filter with clothWater filter with cloth 11 3.33.3 22 6.66.6

Characteristics Of Good Drinking WaterCharacteristics Of Good Drinking Water

UrbanUrban RuralRural

nn %% nn %%

Clear waterClear water 1717 5656 1818 6060

Clear and shiny waterClear and shiny water 55 16.616.6 88 2626

Water looking whiteWater looking white 44 1313 11 3.33.3

Water does not look dirtyWater does not look dirty 33 1515 55 16.616.6

No particles in waterNo particles in water 22 6.66.6 11 3.33.3

No dirt in waterNo dirt in water 1010 3333 99 3030

Water which is not muddyWater which is not muddy 1010 3333 77 2323

Water free from germsWater free from germs 33 1010 22 6.66.6

Cont….

Characteristics Of Good Drinking WaterCharacteristics Of Good Drinking Water

UrbanUrban RuralRural

nn %% nn %%

No bad smell in waterNo bad smell in water 1515 5050 66 2020

Water with no bad tasteWater with no bad taste -- -- 11 3.33.3

Soft sweet waterSoft sweet water -- -- 44 13.313.3

Light waterLight water 11 3.33.3 -- --

Characteristics Of Bad Drinking WaterCharacteristics Of Bad Drinking Water

UrbanUrban RuralRuralnn %% nn %%

AppearanceAppearance

Green colored waterGreen colored water -- -- 22 6.66.6

Water looking like sewerage Water looking like sewerage 22 6.66.6 22 6.66.6

Dirty looking waterDirty looking water 2121 7070 1616 5353

Dirt particles in waterDirt particles in water 1919 6363 1919 6363

Muddy waterMuddy water 99 3030 1515 5050

Water which is not clearWater which is not clear 11 3.33.3 11 3.33.3

Yellow colored waterYellow colored water 11 3.33.3 33 10 10

Cont….

Characteristics Of Bad Drinking WaterCharacteristics Of Bad Drinking Water

UrbanUrban RuralRuralnn %% nn %%

TasteTaste

Water with taste badWater with taste bad 11 3.33.3 22 6.66.6

Water with bad smellWater with bad smell 1919 6363 1616 5353

GermsGerms

Germs in waterGerms in water 22 6.66.6 33 1010

Salty waterSalty water 11 3.33.3 44 13.313.3

Heavy waterHeavy water 11 3.33.3 -- --

SmellSmell

Description Of Drinking Water AvailableDescription Of Drinking Water Available

UrbanUrban RuralRural

nn %% nn %%

Dirty waterDirty water 2424 8080 2929 96.696.6

Muddy waterMuddy water 1010 3333 1212 4040

Foul smelling waterFoul smelling water 99 3030 44 13.313.3

Clear waterClear water 33 1010 -- --

Not good for drinkingNot good for drinking 22 6.66.6 -- --

Water containing germsWater containing germs 22 6.66.6 11 3.33.3

Methods Used To Clean WaterMethods Used To Clean Water

57

23

8 2

No methodBoilingFilter with clothAlum

Reasons For Treating Drinking WaterReasons For Treating Drinking Water

%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Kill Germs

Clean water

Prevent Stomach Ailments

Prevent Diarrohea in Children

Clear Water / Particles settle down

Good Health

Kill Stomach Worms

%

Advantages Of Using Advantages Of Using PuRPuR

%

01020304050607080

Particlessettle down

Water looksclean

Crystal clearwater

Water looksgood

No Diarroheain children

%

Urban AreaUrban Area•• PuRPuR Motivation CommunityMotivation Community 12 Houses12 Houses

–– 11 Houses heard about 11 Houses heard about PuRPuR–– 1 House nor heard about 1 House nor heard about PuRPuR

•• Source of InformationSource of Information–– PuRPuR Team 5 HousesTeam 5 Houses–– Television 6 HousesTelevision 6 Houses

•• Non Non PuRPuR Motivation CommunityMotivation Community 15 Houses15 Houses–– 4 Houses heard about 4 Houses heard about PuRPuR–– 11 House nor heard about 11 House nor heard about PuRPuR

•• Source of InformationSource of Information–– School 2 HousesSchool 2 Houses–– Television 2 HousesTelevision 2 Houses

Rural AreaRural Area

•• PuRPuR Motivation CommunityMotivation Community 12 Houses12 Houses–– 4 Houses heard about 4 Houses heard about PuRPuR–– 8 Houses not heard about 8 Houses not heard about PuRPuR

•• Source of InformationSource of Information–– Sister 1 HouseSister 1 House–– Television 3 HousesTelevision 3 Houses

•• Non Non PuRPuR Motivation CommunityMotivation Community 15 Houses15 Houses–– 4 Houses heard about 4 Houses heard about PuRPuR–– 11 Houses not heard about 11 Houses not heard about PuRPuR

•• Source of InformationSource of Information–– Television 4 HousesTelevision 4 Houses

Reasons For Discontinuation Of Reasons For Discontinuation Of PuRPuR UsageUsage

0102030405060708090

TooExpensive

Takes longtime

Difficult tomake

Children donot like taste

Bad smell

%

ConclusionConclusion•• People are aware that the drinking water they get is not fit People are aware that the drinking water they get is not fit

for consumption.for consumption.•• Perceptions of good or bad water are based on appearance Perceptions of good or bad water are based on appearance

of water. Clear water is perceived to be good for health.of water. Clear water is perceived to be good for health.•• People link bad quality water with stomach ailments and People link bad quality water with stomach ailments and

diarroheadiarrohea..•• Mothers not aware of the terminology Mothers not aware of the terminology ““germsgerms”” but but

indirectly link good health with clean water.indirectly link good health with clean water.•• Water taste and smell are important characteristics of Water taste and smell are important characteristics of

water quality.water quality.•• Mothers like to use traditional methods of water treatment Mothers like to use traditional methods of water treatment

for for egeg. boiling.. boiling.•• Newer methods of water treatment required behavior Newer methods of water treatment required behavior

change. Intense motivation campaign through change. Intense motivation campaign through IPCsIPCs and and media needed for behavior change.media needed for behavior change.

•• Television has emerged has a powerful media to convey Television has emerged has a powerful media to convey messages on household water treatment.messages on household water treatment.

•• Change in behavior and practices occurs gradually over a Change in behavior and practices occurs gradually over a period of time.period of time.