Promoting Low-Cost Water Purification Methods in the Urban Slum Area of Sindh, Pakistan: Using the Community as Partner Model

Abstract

This small-scale project used the community as partner (CAP) model to tailor evidence-based, cost-effective, and practical strategies for mitigating the issue of unsafe drinking water in the urban slum area of Jamshoro, where the other approaches for water purification were either scarce or difficult to access. The fieldwork was carried out from January to March 2023. Before starting the project, key stakeholders and the local people obtained verbal and written consent. Using the CAP model, the Year IV nursing students conducted a community assessment to determine the local community’s awareness regarding home-based water purification methods, water contamination, and waterborne diseases. Next, the action planning process was carried out, followed by teaching through awareness sessions. The study adopted a CAP approach, which was opposed to how research activities are carried out traditionally. In this study, the undergraduates and community partners were jointly involved in assessing, setting priorities, and implementing and evaluating the project. This equitable partnership was found to be beneficial in numerous ways, including context-based relevancy, acceptability of strategies, and sustainability of the project.