Assessment of the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Water Pasteurization Indicators to Increase Access to Safe Drinking Water in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Approximately two billion people lack access to microbiologically safe drinking water globally. Boiling is the most popular household water treatment method and significantly reduces diarrheal disease, but is often practiced inconsistently or ineffectively. The use of low-cost technologies to improve boiling is one approach with potential for increasing access to safe drinking water. We conducted household trials to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of water pasteurization indicators (WAPIs) in the Peruvian Amazon in 2015. A total of 28 randomly selected households were enrolled from a rural and a peri-urban community. All households trialed two WAPI designs, each for a 2-week period. Ninety-six percent of participants demonstrated the correct use of the WAPIs at the end of each trial, and 88% expressed satisfaction with both WAPI models. Ease of use, short treatment time, knowledge of the association between WAPI use and improved health, and the taste of treated water were among the key factors that influenced acceptability. Ease of use was the key factor that influenced design preference. Participants in both communities preferred a WAPI with a plastic box that floated on the water's surface compared with a WAPI with a wire that was dipped into the pot of drinking water while it was heating (77% versus 15%, P < 0.001); we selected the box design for a subsequent randomized trial of this intervention. The high feasibility and acceptability of the WAPIs in this study suggest that these interventions have potential to increase access to safe water in resource-limited settings.

Acceptability measures of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in low- and middle-income countries, a systematic review

“…Across the 36 included studies, four explicitly defined their acceptability measure: ("things liked and not liked" [ 21 ]; "social acceptance, i.e., the willingness of users to receive and use a technology” [ 22 ]; “An acceptable behaviour is one in which participants are willing to adopt and practice, that is feasible, practical, beneficial, and can be adjusted through negotiation” [ 23 ]; and “participant’s satisfaction with use of the models” [ 24 ]). For the remaining studies, we extracted implicit definitions based on provided interview/survey results or terminology used by the authors.…”

“…There was a lack of consistency among conceptualisations of acceptability and associated measures in WASH intervention studies, limiting their comparability and usefulness to inform intervention sustainability. While all 36 included studies claimed to measure acceptability, most did not provide a theoretical basis for their acceptability study design methods, and only four explicitly defined their acceptability measure [21][22][23][24]. The first limitation arising from such inconsistency is that studies that used subjective measures, such as 'feelings towards' the intervention, missed other potentially key components such as 'willingness to purchase' or levels of use and vice versa.…”

Isolasi Bakteri Koliform untuk memenuhi Kebutuhan Bahan Praktikum di Laboratorium Teknologi Rekayasa Pangan

“…Sampel jamu telah mengalami pengolahan yang menyebabkan jumlah mikroba yang terkandung menjadi sedikit. Pemanasan pada makanan atau minuman hingga mendidih dapat menurunkan risiko terkena diare secara signifikan (Heitzinger et al, 2020). Hasil ini hanya memperkirakan keberadaan bakteri koliform, tidak menunjukkan apakah sampel tersebut dapat dikonsumsi atau tidak.…”