scholarly journals Assessment of Water Security in Socially Excluded Areas in Kolkata, India: An Approach Focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subham Mukherjee ◽  
Trude Sundberg ◽  
Brigitta Schütt
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Slum Dwellers ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Socially Excluded ◽  
Food Washing ◽  
Deprived Areas

Water security is essential not only to ensure the availability and accessibility of water for drinking, producing food, washing, but also to maintain both human and environmental health. The 2011 Census of India reveals that 17.4% of urban households in India live in deprived areas in urban landscapes which are designated as slums in the Census dataset. The increasing number of people living in these areas poses serious challenges to the provision of basic urban water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) services. Perceived susceptibility of risks from contaminated water and lack of proper sanitation and hygiene will be addressed in the light of social exclusion factors. This study attempts to assess the present situation of water, sanitation and required hygiene provisions within the areas defined as slums by the Census of India 2011 in Kolkata, India. Based on the results obtained from the datasets from the census, and a household survey, we identified a lack of supplies associated with WaSH provisions in these areas of Kolkata. The WaSH provisions in the slum areas of Kolkata city are facing various issues related to regularity, quality and quantity of supplied water. Additionally, there is poor maintenance of existing WaSH services including latrine facilities and per capita allocation of a sustainable water security among the slum dwellers. By adding to our understanding of the importance of factors such as gender, religions, and knowledge of drinking water in deprived areas, the study analyses the links between both physical and social issues determining vulnerability and presence of deprivation associated with basic WaSH provisions as human rights of slum communities.

Botswana: country report on children’s environmental health

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patience Erick
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Country Report ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Children’S Environmental Health ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5.9 million children under age 5 died in 2015, and globally, the main causes of child deaths are pneumonia, prematurity, intrapartum-related complications, neonatal sepsis, congenital anomalies, diarrhoea, injuries and malaria. In 2012, it was reported that one quarter of childhood deaths and disease burden could have been prevented by reducing environmental risks. Children are vulnerable to environmental risks such as air pollution, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene, hazardous chemicals and waste, radiation, climate change, as well as emerging threats like e-waste. They are particularly vulnerable to these threats due to their developing organs and immune systems, smaller bodies and airways. In 2010, there were 132,989 in-patient morbidities. This number represents a 5.2% increase from the 126,381 registered in 2009. The major causes of infant morbidity and morbidity in children under 5 years old were diarrhoea and pneumonia. Although morbidity cases increased in 2010, there was a 6% decline in in-patient mortality from 6952 registered deaths in 2009 to 6535 deaths in 2010. Pneumonia and diarrhoea were the major causes of both infant and child mortalities. In Botswana, various environmental risk factors such as contaminated water, air and soil pollution and poor waste management have been associated with children’s environmental health (CEH). The outbreaks of diarrhoea in the country have always been associated with contaminated water. In the recent outbreak of diarrhoea in August 2018, laboratory investigations attributed the outbreak of diarrhoea to rotavirus. Children (1–6 years) living in areas with high levels of traffic congestion (living near a busy road) had higher levels of lead in their blood than those who lived in areas with less traffic. Poor waste management may lead to contamination of air, soil and water. CEH has not been given the attention it deserves in Botswana. It is, therefore, time to raise awareness on the subject. Health care workers, for example, need to be trained on diseases affecting children that are due to environmental exposures. Communities as well need to be trained on environmental factors that are prevalent in their areas and the effects of those on children’s health. It is important that research should be conducted on CEH in Botswana. At the time of compiling this report, the author was not aware of any CEH network in the country or networks in the region. To raise awareness and advocacy of CEH, there is a need for the establishment of a CEH network in the country or to participate in networks in the regions.

scholarly journals Is “Perceived Water Insecurity” Associated with Disaster Risk Perception, Preparedness Attitudes, and Coping Ability in Rural China? (A Health-EDRM Pilot Study)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Ying-en Ho ◽  
Emily Ying Yang Chan ◽  
Holly Ching Yu Lam ◽  
May Pui Shan Yeung ◽  
Carol Ka Po Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Risk Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Risk Area ◽  
Coping Ability ◽  
And Coping

Water security is essential for maintaining health and well-being, and for reducing a population’s vulnerability in a disaster. Among resource-poor villagers in China, water-related disasters and climate change may increasingly affect people’s water security. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived water security and disaster risk perception in a rural ethnic minority community. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 2015 in Xingguang village, Chongqing, China, examining the association between villagers’ perceptions of household water security, disaster risk, and sociodemographic variables. Among 52 household representatives, 84.6% relied on rainwater as their main water source and 63.5% reported having insufficient water on a regular basis. Only 32.7% perceived themselves to be living in a high-risk area, of which climate-related disasters such as storms (44.4%) and droughts (38.9%) were the most frequently reported disasters in their area. Insufficient water quantity, previous disaster experience, and household members on chronic disease medication were found to be associated with higher disaster risk perception. Perceived water security indicators were not found to be predictors of preparedness attitudes and coping ability. Addressing water sufficiency in both disaster risk reduction strategies and long-term water management will be necessary to improve the health and livelihood of rural villagers in the coming decades.

How effective are the new WASH security guidelines for India? An empirical case study of Andhra Pradesh

Water Policy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kurian Baby ◽  
V. Ratna Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Capital Maintenance ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
Private And Public

India has been making policies relating to the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector since independence. The 2010 policy guidelines for the water and sanitation sectors have embarked on a new path of water security by identifying and emphasizing the importance of hitherto nagging bottlenecks in sustainable service delivery. This paper attempts to assess these policy guidelines critically and suggest ways to make them effective from the point of view of putting them into operation. This paper argues the following. (i) WASH sector financing needs to be addressed directly with realistic assessment of unit costs and their composition. (ii) Within the WASH sector sanitation needs special focus in terms of planning and allocations. Treating sanitation as an add-on to water would not be enough to improve the sanitation and hygiene conditions. The approach to sanitation needs to be focused on creating demand at the household level, segregating private and public responsibilities in this regard. (iii) Although the new guidelines try to bring a much needed balance between the cost components of new capital investment, they are not clear about post-construction support, especially capital maintenance and ring fencing the allocations towards O&M (operations and maintenance), as well as emphasizing that capital maintenance is critical for sustainable service delivery.

Handwashing and water security in the context of a pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Hannah ◽  
Iseult Lynch ◽  
Feng Mao ◽  
Joshua D. Miller ◽  
Sera L. Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal 6

<p>The COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for water security issues. It makes us acutely aware how crucial access, and ability, for adequate hand hygiene are for reducing transmission risks of communicable diseases. An estimated 40% of households globally lack access to basic handwashing facilities. A recent cross-cultural study of household water insecurity experiences (HWISE) found that nearly one in four of 6,637 randomly sampled households across 23 sites in 20 low- and middle-income countries. Similar water, sanitation and hygiene problems impact on poorer families in high-income nations too.</p><p>We explore the challenge of hand hygiene in a changing water world and reflect on the importance of making rapid progress towards “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” (UN Sustainable Development Goal 6). We contest that urgent action on water security is essential to better prepare societies for the future, including global health crises. Drawing on the latest evidence, we provide recommendations on how to increase handwashing, and improve human health and wellbeing more broadly, by reducing water insecurity. Across our world, policymakers must focus on: investment in water infrastructure, water independent alternatives, and behavioural change and knowledge promotion. Moreover, we must prioritise holistic, evidence-based solutions that address 3 facets of water (in)security: availability, quality & accessibility.</p>

scholarly journals Dimensions and approaches for Third World city water security

2003 ◽  
Vol 358 (1440) ◽  
pp. 1985-1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Lundqvist ◽  
Paul Appasamy ◽  
Prakash Nelliyat
Keyword(s):  
Third World ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
National Development ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
World City ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Urban Water

A rapid expansion of urban systems, particularly in less–developed countries, pose considerable challenges. Urbanization also provides opportunities for socio–economic progress. Relative contribution from the urban sector to national economic growth is very high. The fate and the role of the socio–economic system in local, regional and national development hinges on many circumstances. Apart from delicate social issues, deficiencies in water provision, internal distribution and a hazardous water and environmental quality represent basic and tangible daily problems. Urban water security requires fresh thinking at two levels. Some kind of basin authority (corresponding to a county council, i.e. a formal administrative and regulatory body for the geographical area within a river basin) in combination with a national water policy is required, notably in countries that contemplate, or are in the process of implementing, regional and sometimes inter–basin schemes to augment supply to growing conglomerations. Similarly, the generation of large volumes of waste water and the associated threat to downstream areas cannot be effectively tackled through conventional urban planning. Within the urban area, and particularly in non–regulated parts, there is an urgent need for institutional arrangements that facilitate operations for providers who have the capacity and ability to function under the prevailing circumstances. Introduction of effective production and treatment technologies are other necessary and urgent prerequisites to reach urban water security in Third World cities.

scholarly journals Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Relation to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4281
Author(s):  
Geteneh Moges Assefa ◽  
Samiha Sherif ◽  
Jose Sluijs ◽  
Maarten Kuijpers ◽  
Tamene Chaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Basic Service ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Socially Excluded

The main purpose of the study was to deepen the understanding of gender and social inclusion in the context of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. An explorative qualitative study was conducted in three districts of the Oromia region using gender analysis frameworks. Twenty-one key informant interviews and nine focus group discussions were conducted. Findings showed 52% of households in the study area have basic service level water, 29% have basic service level sanitation, and 14% have basic service level hygiene. Women, girls, and people living with disability disproportionately experience poor access to quality WASH services. Women and girls participate in unequal domestic labor related to water management which often exposes them to discrimination and violence such as rape, abduction, and assault. Overall, women, girls, and other socially excluded groups are rarely consulted and engaged by local actors. This results in incongruent policy and political commitment which limits action at the grassroots level. Integrating gender equality and inclusion efforts into local governance agendas can help to increase access to and the quality of WASH services. These efforts must advocate for moving beyond gender parity to promote gender transformative approaches and inclusion to realize better WASH services for the communities they serve.

scholarly journals The use of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation as an indicator to evaluate the impact of policy on widening access to higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Paterson ◽  
Lucy Hunter Blackburn ◽  
Elisabet Weedon
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Multiple Deprivation ◽  
Widening Access ◽  
Education Statistics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Index Of Multiple Deprivation ◽  
Deprived Areas

Policy on widening access to higher education in Scotland is defined mainly in terms of students who live in deprived areas as defined by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Although area measures can be informative, and are convenient because they require only a postcode to classify any person into a deprivation category, they are crude. We use data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the Growing Up in Scotland Survey and the Scottish Household Survey to analyse the extent to which neighbourhood measures can be used as the basis of valid indicators of widening access. We conclude that they are flawed, although not wholly useless, and ought to be supplemented by more valid measures of students' social circumstances.

scholarly journals Who does what and why? Examining intra-household water and sanitation decision-making and autonomy in Asutifi North, Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Bisung ◽  
Sarah Dickin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Community Planning ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Contextual Understanding ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Water Collection ◽  
Joint Decisions ◽  
Household Members

Abstract While under-researched in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector, it is increasingly clear that women's agency is fundamental to addressing inequalities in many contexts. However, focusing on agency alone can overlook the underlying reasons for decision-making behaviour. This article examines two important aspects of decision-making: motivations behind a person's actions, and the extent to which decisions are perceived to be sole or joint decisions. We draw on a household survey of 600 respondents to examine decision-making related to three domains: water collection, WASH expenditures, and WASH community planning among dual adult household members in Asutifi North district, Ghana. On average, women were more likely to report no input into decision-making related to sanitation expenditure and community participation. However, women had high decision-making autonomy related to water collection and community participation compared to men. Disagreement on decision-making among partners was substantial and systematic across the three domains. These findings imply that decision-making in WASH are gendered, and better contextual understanding of the underlying gender dynamics is very important for promoting women's empowerment in WASH. These dynamics are particularly important to consider in interventions that rely on household self-supply of water or sanitation facilities.

scholarly journals The source of potential pollution and diarrhea on toodlers at populous area (a study at Johar Baru Subdistrict, Central Jakarta)

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 ◽  
pp. 02009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ika Syiami Fitri ◽  
Haryoto Kusnoputranto ◽  
Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo
Keyword(s):  
Family Income ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
City Water ◽  
Potential Pollution

Indonesia still faces some challenges in the field of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) especially in Jakarta. Environmental disease such as diarrhea becomes the cause of death on toddlers in Indonesia. The region with the most cases of diarrhea is Johar Baru Subdistrict with proportion 17% of all Subdistricts in Central Jakarta area and becomes the region with the most populous place in Jakarta. This analysis aims to determine the source of potential pollution of diarrhea in Johar Baru Subdistrict. The research method used was cross sectional study design. The research results show that mothers’ education, the habit of washing the hand by using soap, family income, type of clean water sources, facility of waste disposal, and risk of clean water source pollution influence the occurance of diarrhea on toddlers. The dominant factor of diarrhea case on toddlers is the risk of clean water source pollution and the habit of washing the hand by using soap. The effort of diarrhea prevention is such as conducting city water security at slums of the city with high populous and makes washing the hand with soap as the habit in the society completed with the facility of hand washing.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document