Barriers and Enabling Factors for Central and Household Level Water Treatment in a Refugee Setting: A Mixed-Method Study among Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Alam, M-U; Unicomb, L; Ahasan, SMM; Amin, N; Biswas, D; Ferdous, S; Afrin, A; Sarker, S; Rahman, M

Barriers and Enabling Factors for Central and Household Level Water Treatment in a Refugee Setting: A Mixed-Method Study among Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Alam, M-U Unicomb, L Ahasan, SMM Amin, N Biswas, D Ferdous, S Afrin, A Sarker, S Rahman, M

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: WATER, 2020, 12, (11)
Issue Date:: 2020-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Alam, M-U
dc.contributor.author	Unicomb, L
dc.contributor.author	Ahasan, SMM
dc.contributor.author	Amin, N
dc.contributor.author	Biswas, D
dc.contributor.author	Ferdous, S
dc.contributor.author	Afrin, A
dc.contributor.author	Sarker, S
dc.contributor.author	Rahman, M
dc.date.accessioned	2022-03-14T06:58:42Z
dc.date.available	2022-03-14T06:58:42Z
dc.date.issued	2020-11-01
dc.identifier.citation	WATER, 2020, 12, (11)
dc.identifier.issn	2073-4441
dc.identifier.issn	2073-4441
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/155213
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Water chlorination is widely used in emergency responses to reduce diarrheal diseases, although communities with no prior exposure to chlorinated drinking water can have low acceptability. To better inform water treatment interventions, the study explored acceptability, barriers, and motivating-factors of a piped water chlorination program, and household level chlorine-tablet distribution, in place for four months in Rohingya refugee camps, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We collected data from June to August 2018 from four purposively selected refugee camps using structured observation, key-informant-interviews, transect-walks, group discussions, focus-group discussions, and in-depth-interviews with males, females, adolescent girls, and community leaders. Smell and taste of chlorinated water were commonly reported barriers among the population that had previously consumed groundwater. Poor quality source-water and suboptimal resultant treated-water, and long-queues for water collection were common complaints. Chlorine-tablet users reported inadequate and interrupted tablet supply, and inconsistent information delivered by different organisations caused confusion. Respondents reported fear of adverse-effects of "chemicals/medicine" used to treat water, especially fear of religious conversion. Water treatment options were reported as easy-to-use, and perceived health-benefits were motivating-factors. In vulnerable refugee communities, community and religious-leaders can formulate and deliver messages to address water taste and smell, instil trust, allay fears, and address rumours/misinformation to maximise early uptake.</jats:p>
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	WATER
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/w12113149
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Barriers and Enabling Factors for Central and Household Level Water Treatment in a Refugee Setting: A Mixed-Method Study among Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	12
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-03-14T06:58:41Z
pubs.issue	11
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	12
utslib.citation.issue	11

Abstract:

Water chlorination is widely used in emergency responses to reduce diarrheal diseases, although communities with no prior exposure to chlorinated drinking water can have low acceptability. To better inform water treatment interventions, the study explored acceptability, barriers, and motivating-factors of a piped water chlorination program, and household level chlorine-tablet distribution, in place for four months in Rohingya refugee camps, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We collected data from June to August 2018 from four purposively selected refugee camps using structured observation, key-informant-interviews, transect-walks, group discussions, focus-group discussions, and in-depth-interviews with males, females, adolescent girls, and community leaders. Smell and taste of chlorinated water were commonly reported barriers among the population that had previously consumed groundwater. Poor quality source-water and suboptimal resultant treated-water, and long-queues for water collection were common complaints. Chlorine-tablet users reported inadequate and interrupted tablet supply, and inconsistent information delivered by different organisations caused confusion. Respondents reported fear of adverse-effects of "chemicals/medicine" used to treat water, especially fear of religious conversion. Water treatment options were reported as easy-to-use, and perceived health-benefits were motivating-factors. In vulnerable refugee communities, community and religious-leaders can formulate and deliver messages to address water taste and smell, instil trust, allay fears, and address rumours/misinformation to maximise early uptake.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/155213