Determining the differential preferences of users of two fluoride-free water options in rural Ethiopia

Abstract

Aim In the Ethiopian Rift Valley, 8.5 million people depend on water sources with excessive fluoride. In one rural village, a fluoride-removal community filter was implemented; a personalized reminder was distributed to change people's behavior and increase the usage of the in-village community filter. During this promotion phase, an alternative fluorideremoval option was installed in a neighboring village.This study examines psychological factors that explain the differences in preference between the two options and their influence on the usage of the different sources. In addition, the effectiveness of the applied behavior change technique, a personalized reminder, on the use of the invillage community filter was analyzed. Subject and methods In a complete longitudinal survey, 180 households, with access to both mitigation options, were interviewed through structured, face-to-face interviews. Logistic regressions were carried out to reveal factors predicting the usage of the two mitigation options and the effect of the implemented behavior change intervention.Results The results showed that the better the taste, the lower the effort and the lower the costs for using the invillage community filter are perceived; in addition, the lower the perceived vulnerability to contract disease, the more the in-village community filter is used. Moreover, it was found that the personalized reminder also had a positive effect on the usage of the in-village mitigation option. Conclusion Based on the results, possible recommendations for practitioners and researchers are made to help plan and implement mitigation options.

Continuation of Health Behaviors: Psychosocial Factors Sustaining Drinking Water Chlorination in a Longitudinal Study from Chad

“…Again, people engaging in protective behavior should be less susceptible to disease, experience fewer or milder cases, and subsequently rate the impacts on their lives as less severe. This finding is in line with the results of similar studies [48].…”

Water quality risks of ‘improved’ water sources: evidence from Cambodia

“…However, more research is needed on the content and delivery of such information to effect sustained behaviour change (Lucas et al . ; Huber & Mosler ) and on evidence‐based behaviour change interventions to more generally improve and sustain water, sanitation and hygiene practices (Fiebelkorn et al . ; Mosler ).…”

Assessing the challenges of utilizing fluoride filtered water and its factors, in Ethiopian central rift valley, Dugda district, Oromia region, south west Ethiopia,2019: A cross sectional study.

“…Another case study concerns the area around Lake Lamentation in Kenya fluoride levels ranged between 2.1 and 20.1 mg/l, and fluorosis among children up to age 14 years was 96 %; as 90 % higher than in Dugda district respectively (13,14).…”

“…intake from drinking water is 0.03-0.68 mg d -1 and from toothpaste 0.2-0.3 mg d -1 (14,16) Questions regarding water quality showed that people were aware that their water may need to be treated and was intended to do so to minimize health impacts and waterborne diseases. They were also aware of the causes and effects of non-fluoride filtered water quality; however, the some of the community usually has no choice but to use the household level florid filter water they own or the one easily accessible community filter or deemed convenient.…”