Social mobilization for sanitation

Social mobilization for sanitatio

What is cholera?:A preliminary study on caretakers' knowledge in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Cholera has afflicted the Indian sub-continent for centuries, predominantly in West Bengal and modern-day Bangladesh. This preliminary study aims to understand the current level of knowledge of cholera in female Bangladeshi caretakers, which is important in the outcome of the disease and its spread. A pilot study was conducted among 85 women in Bangladesh using qualitative questionnaires to explore the ability of female caretakers in identifying cholera and its transmission. FINDINGS: The survey revealed that though all the female caretakers were aware of the term “cholera,” nearly a third of the respondents did not associate diarrhea with cholera or mentioned symptoms that could not be caused by cholera (29 %). Approximately half of the respondents associated water with the cause of cholera (56 %) and only 8 % associated cholera with sanitation or hygiene. Shame and stigma (54 %) were more commonly described than death (47 %) as negative effects of cholera. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study are suggestive of a need for reformulation of cholera and diarrhea communication. Messaging should be based on signs of dehydration, foregoing the use of medical terminology

Sequential Fe²⁺ oxidation to mitigate the inhibiting effect of phosphate and silicate on arsenic removal

Sequential iron (as Fe2+) oxidation has been found to yield improved arsenic (as As(III)) uptake than the single-step oxidation. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of interactions with phosphate (PO43−) and silicate (SiO42−) during sequential Fe2+ and As(III) oxidation and removal, as these are typically found in groundwater and known to interfere with As removal. The laboratory experiments were performed using single and multi-step jar tests with an initial As(III/V), Fe2+, PO43−, SiO42− concentrations, and pH of 200 μg/L, 2.5 mg/L, 2 mg/L, 16 mg/L and 7.0, respectively representing the targeted natural groundwater in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. The sequential Fe2+ and As(III) oxidation in the multi-step jar tests indicated that the PO43− hindrance on As removal in the first Fe2+ oxidation step was compensated for in the second. Moreover, smaller Fe flocs (<0.45 μm) were observed in the presence of SiO42−, potentially providing more surface area during the second Fe2+ oxidation step leading to better overall As removal. Altogether it may be concluded that controlling the As(III) and Fe2+ oxidation sequence is beneficial for As removal compared to single-step Fe2+ oxidation, both in the presence and absence of PO43− and/or SiO42−.Sanitary EngineeringWater Managemen

Study on Hygiene Environment Improvement in Urban Slums in Bangladesh

バングラデシュでは，都市人口は爆発的に増加しており，スラムおよびスラム人口は急増している。水に関係した自然災害は定常的に発生している一方，安全な水の供給，十分な衛生状態確保のための社会資本整備は満足に進んでいない。本論では，都市スラムにおけるトイレならびにし尿処理の現状を把握するとともに，都市衛生確保のための適正技術，技術を適用するうえで考慮すべき前提条件について議論し，今後の研究計画を明らかにする。The urban population of Bangladesh is exploding, and the number of urban slums - as well as the slumpopulation ? is rapidly increasing. At the same time, water-related natural disasters have beenoccurring regularly, while water supply and sanitation infrastructures are not yet satisfactorilydeveloped. In this paper, authors will firstly review the condition of urban sanitation and the state ofuse of latrine and excreta management, and then, will discuss appropriate technologies for urbansanitation and necessary factors to be considered to adopt those technologies in order to formulate theirfuture research.バングラデシュでは，都市人口は爆発的に増加しており，スラムおよびスラム人口は急増している。水に関係した自然災害は定常的に発生している一方，安全な水の供給，十分な衛生状態確保のための社会資本整備は満足に進んでいない。本論では，都市スラムにおけるトイレならびにし尿処理の現状を把握するとともに，都市衛生確保のための適正技術，技術を適用するうえで考慮すべき前提条件について議論し，今後の研究計画を明らかにする。The urban population of Bangladesh is exploding, and the number of urban slums - as well as the slumpopulation ? is rapidly increasing. At the same time, water-related natural disasters have beenoccurring regularly, while water supply and sanitation infrastructures are not yet satisfactorilydeveloped. In this paper, authors will firstly review the condition of urban sanitation and the state ofuse of latrine and excreta management, and then, will discuss appropriate technologies for urbansanitation and necessary factors to be considered to adopt those technologies in order to formulate theirfuture research

Arsenic removal from iron-containing groundwater by delayed aeration in dual-media sand filters

Generally, abstracted groundwater is aerated, leading to iron (Fe2+) oxidation to Fe3+ and precipitation as Fe3+-(hydr)oxide (HFO) flocs. This practice of passive groundwater treatment, however, is not considered a barrier for arsenic (As), as removal efficiencies vary widely (15–95%), depending on Fe/As ratio. This study hypothesizes that full utilization of the adsorption capacity of groundwater native-Fe2+ based HFO flocs is hampered by rapid Fe2+ oxidation-precipitation during aeration before or after storage. Therefore, delaying Fe2+ oxidation by the introduction of an anoxic storage step before aeration-filtration was investigated for As(III) oxidation and removal in Rajshahi (Bangladesh) with natural groundwater containing 329(±0.05) µgAs/L. The results indicated that As(III) oxidation in the oxic storage was higher with complete and rapid Fe2+ oxidation (2±0.01 mg/L) than in the anoxic storage system, where Fe2+ oxidation was partial (1.03±0.32 mg/L), but the oxidized As(V)/Fe removal ratio was comparatively higher for the anoxic storage system. The low pH (6.9) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (0.24 mg/L) in the anoxic storage limited the rapid oxidation of Fe2+ and facilitated more As(V) removal. The groundwater native-Fe2+ (2.33±0.03 mg/L) removed 61% of As in the oxic system (storage-aeration-filtration), whereas 92% As removal was achieved in the anoxic system.Sanitary Engineerin

Perceptions and behavior related to noncommunicable diseases among slum dwellers in a rapidly urbanizing city, Dhaka, Bangladesh : a qualitative study

The increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh can be attributable to rapid urbanization and coinciding changes in lifestyle accompanied by nutrition transition. The objective of this study is to explore respondents’ lived experiences and perceptions relating to NCDs and nutrition change in an urban slum community in Dhaka. Qualitative methods were employed to explore a general understanding of behavior related to NCDs among residents of the slum community. We conducted key informant interviews of six men and seven women of various backgrounds and five focus group discussions to focus salient topics emerged from the interviews. The transcriptions of the audio-recordings were thematically analyzed, using the constant comparison method. Four major themes emerged: (1) financial hardship influencing health; (2) urbanized lifestyle affecting diet; (3) tobacco and sweetened tea as cornerstones of social life; and (4) health-seeking behavior utilizing local resources. One notable finding was that even with general economic improvement, respondents perceived poverty to be one of the major causes of NCDs. A promising finding for potentially curbing NCDs was the current trend for women to walk for exercise contrary to the commonly held notion that urban dwellers generally lead sedentary lifestyles. This study described how urban slum dwellers in Dhaka, experiencing a transition from a traditional to urbanized lifestyle, perceived their daily practices in relation to NCDs and nutrition. Our research revealed both adverse and encouraging elements of perceptions and behavior related to NCDs, which may contribute to the optimal design of NCD prevention and health promotion programs.This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) from Japan Society 568 Abubakr Ahmed Abdullah Al-Shoaibi, Akiko Matsuyama et al. for the Promotion of Science [A, 26257505 to AA], and in part by Sciences Research Grant for Research on Global Health Issues from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development [15jk0110008h0101 to AA]

A Study on Disaster Problems in Bangladesh from natural and social aspects

バングラデシュの災害は自然災害と環境災害に分けて認識することができる。バングラデシュにおける自然災害は洪水，渇水，ヒ素汚染，塩害がある。環境災害は，環境破壊災害，環境汚染災害，環境文化災害に分類することができる。環境文化災害としては人口増加，識字率の低さ，インドとの間に発生するガンジス河をとりまく水資源コンフリクトをあげる。これらの視点からバングラデシュの水資源問題を明確にし，最も総合的な問題であると考えられる飲料水のヒ素汚染に着目する。そして，ヒ素の分布と自然特性，社会特性の関連を分析し，ヒ素汚染とガンジス河利用の問題解決の指針を考察する。Factors of disaster in Bangladesh can be classified into natural ones and socio-environmental ones.Socio-environmental factors can be classified more minutely into socio-environmental destructionfactors, socio-environmental pollution factors, and socio-environmental culture factors. Factors ofdisaster in Bangladesh are made much clearer from these viewpoints. Then, arsenic problem ofdrinking water which can be thought as the most comprehensive disaster in Bangladesh is focused on, and the relation of arsenic distribution of and natural prosperity and social prosperity of Bangladesh.Furthermore, guidelines for tackling arsenic problem of water drinking is proposed.バングラデシュの災害は自然災害と環境災害に分けて認識することができる。バングラデシュにおける自然災害は洪水，渇水，ヒ素汚染，塩害がある。環境災害は，環境破壊災害，環境汚染災害，環境文化災害に分類することができる。環境文化災害としては人口増加，識字率の低さ，インドとの間に発生するガンジス河をとりまく水資源コンフリクトをあげる。これらの視点からバングラデシュの水資源問題を明確にし，最も総合的な問題であると考えられる飲料水のヒ素汚染に着目する。そして，ヒ素の分布と自然特性，社会特性の関連を分析し，ヒ素汚染とガンジス河利用の問題解決の指針を考察する。Factors of disaster in Bangladesh can be classified into natural ones and socio-environmental ones.Socio-environmental factors can be classified more minutely into socio-environmental destructionfactors, socio-environmental pollution factors, and socio-environmental culture factors. Factors ofdisaster in Bangladesh are made much clearer from these viewpoints. Then, arsenic problem ofdrinking water which can be thought as the most comprehensive disaster in Bangladesh is focused on,and the relation of arsenic distribution of and natural prosperity and social prosperity of Bangladesh.Furthermore, guidelines for tackling arsenic problem of water drinking is proposed

Life-style and Awareness on Sanitation-related Issues among Bangladesh Urban Residents

バングラデシュでは，国民の43％はトイレを持たず，衛生面での問題を有しているトイレも少なくない。さらに排泄されたし尿の処理は，ほとんど行われていない現状である。開発途上国の住民が主体的にトイレを導入し，衛生的なし尿処理を行っていくためには，地域住民が受入れ可能な技術とその導入の方法論を明らかにする必要がある。筆者らは，バングラデシュ都市住民の衛生，トイレ，し尿及びその処理に対する意識，さらに生活全般についての評価に関し，直接インタビュー形式の調査を行った。その結果をもとに，衛生改善技術を導入するにあたっての留意点について考察した。In addition to the fact that more than 40% of people in Bangladesh have no access tolatrines, the type of latrine prevalent in this country has troubles in sanitary andenvironmental aspects. In order for communities in a developing country to be able to improvelatrine and human excreta management available to themselves, it must be made clear locallyappropriate technologies which would be acceptable to residents and how these technologiesmight be implemented. Through a survey consisting of direct interviews to urban residents inBangladesh, the authors have grasped these residents' awareness on sanitation-related issuessuch as latrines, human excreta management and living conditions in general. This paperanalyzes the result of the survey and discusses some considerations for an acceptablesanitation improvement technology.バングラデシュでは，国民の43％はトイレを持たず，衛生面での問題を有しているトイレも少なくない。さらに排泄されたし尿の処理は，ほとんど行われていない現状である。開発途上国の住民が主体的にトイレを導入し，衛生的なし尿処理を行っていくためには，地域住民が受入れ可能な技術とその導入の方法論を明らかにする必要がある。筆者らは，バングラデシュ都市住民の衛生，トイレ，し尿及びその処理に対する意識，さらに生活全般についての評価に関し，直接インタビュー形式の調査を行った。その結果をもとに，衛生改善技術を導入するにあたっての留意点について考察した。In addition to the fact that more than 40% of people in Bangladesh have no access tolatrines, the type of latrine prevalent in this country has troubles in sanitary andenvironmental aspects. In order for communities in a developing country to be able to improvelatrine and human excreta management available to themselves, it must be made clear locallyappropriate technologies which would be acceptable to residents and how these technologiesmight be implemented. Through a survey consisting of direct interviews to urban residents inBangladesh, the authors have grasped these residents' awareness on sanitation-related issuessuch as latrines, human excreta management and living conditions in general. This paperanalyzes the result of the survey and discusses some considerations for an acceptablesanitation improvement technology