Volume : 2, Issue : 11, November - 2013

An Assessment of Sanitary and Hygienic Practices in Rural Areas in a District in Northern India

Dr Arshiya Masood , Prof Mrs S Dwivedi

Abstract :

Much of ill health in India is due to poor environmental sanitation that is unsafe water, polluted soil, unhygienic disposal of human excreta and refuse and poor housing. The twin problem of unsafe water and unsafe excreta disposal is a major hurdle for health in the rural areas of our country. This study was done with the aims and objectives to assess the level of awareness regarding 1. Safe water 2. Sanitation 3. Personal hygiene 4. Diarrhoea and worm infestation. It was a cross sectional study in the two community development blocks of Allahabad district namely Jasra and Saidabad from May 2004 to August 2004. The study units were households/family and the sample size of 640 households was calculated. The study variables were the housing, income, education, source of drinking water, sanitary toilets, personal hygienic practices, diarrhoea and worm infestation. We found that out of 640 household heads 46.9 per cent were illiterate. Majority 60.8 per cent were living in Kutcha houses. Well was the main source of drinking water 57.9 per cent, followed  by hand–pumps 30% and piped water only in 12.1 per cent of households. Daily cleaning of water storing utensils was present in 88.6% out of  those that stored water. Use of ladle to take out water from water storing utensils was seen only in 30.3 per cent. Around 54 per cent had no knowledge of water purification. Sanitary latrines were present in only about 7 per cent of households. Washing of hands after defecation with soap was seen only in 57.2 per cent. Proper personal hygienic practices were found only in a small percentage of households. 65.0 per cent were disposing their household waste indiscriminately. Knowledge about ways of preventing diarrhoea was not satisfactory 12.3 per cent did not know anything about prevention of diarrhoea. Worm infestation was reported to be present in 54.4 per cent. These observations reflect lack of knowledge and awareness which can be addressed by understanding their perception, sensitizing the community on various health related issues and communication for behaviour change.