Paper: KAP Regarding Water Purification Among Families of Lalabad Community, Karachi From October to December 2007 (40th Biennial Convention (October 31st- November 4th, 2009))

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Salima M. Farooq, RN, BScN
School of nursing, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Yasmin P. Parpio, BScN, MSc, Epi, &, Bio
School of Nursing, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Learning Objective 1: discuss the knowledge and attitude towards, storage and water purification in Lalabad community Karachi, Pakistan

Learning Objective 2: identify the practice towards, storage and water purification in Lalabad community Karachi, Pakistan

Water is a fundamental right of every human being. Every 15 second, a child (under five years die from a water related disease (WHO, 2007). The Pakistan Council of Research and Water Resources (PCRWR) assesses that 40 % of all reported illnesses are water related (Rosemann,2005). The main objective of the study is to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice towards, storage and water purification in Lalabad community Karachi, Pakistan. A KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) survey was employed to accomplish the study objectives. Simple random sampling was utilized to recruit study participants. In total, 40 households’ interviews were performed, using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics like percentages, frequencies and graphs were plotted using the Statistical package for social science SPSS version 15.0. Moreover, chi-square was run to assess the association between the KAP regarding water purification and socio-demographic variables.

The study revealed that only 15% of the participants were boiling drinking water; whereas, 12.5% mentioned that they are purifying for the disease prevention. Out of 15% individuals, 2.5% of these were boiling for 20 minutes and 10% for ten minutes and 2.5% for five minutes. Around 37.5% participants were unaware for reason to purifying water and 37.5% were not purifying due to changed taste and unawareness while 10% were not purifying because of limited resources and 7.5% due to cost. Around 97.5% were taking out water from the water containers by dipping utensils in the water container and each time their hand also touched the water. 92.5% were cleaning water container once a month 7.5% once a week. 45% were using water with cloth to clean the container 35% with soap and 15% with detergent.

In chi-square analysis, there was not significant association between boiling water and literacy level and socio-economic condition. It might be due to small sample size; hence, further studies are required to explore the relationship and develop the interventional strategies for health awareness and behavior modification with regard to water purification.

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