TY - JOUR AU - Beistline, Holly Anne PY - 2016/05/15 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Understanding the barriers of clean water access in urban slums of Kolkata, India JF - Christian Journal for Global Health JA - CJGH VL - 3 IS - 1 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.15566/cjgh.v3i1.32 UR - https://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/32 SP - 46-56 AB - <p><strong>Introduction</strong>: Safe drinking water is scarce in Kolkata. Inadequate knowledge and poor practices of storing and cleaning drinking water can cause severe effects on the health of the population. There is a need to understand the current trend of attitudes and practices of individuals living in urban slums to reduce water borne diseases and mortality.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: This pilot cross sectional study was conducted in Kolkata, India during June and July 2014. Five urban slums were selected conveniently based on proximity and cooperation from the community. A sample of 50 women was taken which represented 5 different sums, with a sample of 10 women taken from each slum.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: The majority (80%) of the participants said they regularly have enough water available to meet the needs of their household. Fifty-two percent of subjects received their water for drinking from a tap, hand pump, or time pump. Thirty percent had water pumped into their homes, and 18% purchased their water from a water truck. Fourteen percent said they did not treat their water because it was too time consuming, 40% said it was too much work, and 34% said it was not needed. Ninety percent said they felt it was important to clean their water, almost half (48%) thought their water was not clean, but only 42% used some method to clean their water. Many subjects (68%) stated they knew how to clean their water, but 66% were unaware that visible dirt is not an indicator of illness-causing bacteria in water.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: More focus should be directed towards improving the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of perceived susceptibility of clean water within slum communities in Kolkata, India.</p> ER -