| dc.description.abstract | Though 89% of the world‘s population had access to drinking water facilities, about 768 million people relied on unimproved drinking water-sources; 83% of them resided in rural areas by the end of 2013 (World Health Organization/ United Nations, 2013). Safe water use is use of water free from water borne diseases. The study assessed the level of knowledge, attitude and practices of community members of Go down Zone of lower Namuwongo Parish on safe water use. A sample size of 257 respondents with a response rate of 250(97%) respondents answered the research questions through interviews. These were selected by simple random sampling through a descriptive research design.
Respondents had low knowledge about safe water use; because 210(84%) could not correctly define it. It could be due to the fact that 145(58%) had never had any formal education about safe water use, did not know; 158(63%) safe water sources, 140(56%) the ideal distance between a latrine and a natural water source (between 10 and 20 meters, 90(53%) the major effect of using unsafe water, 185(74%) the water borne diseases, 130(52%) the importance of fetching water in covered containers and 203(81%) that all clear water was unsafe for consumption.
Respondents had negative attitude where, they believed that; 205(82%) that all clear water was safe for consumption, 210(84%) could consume unprocessed water, 233(93%) chemicals were not safe to treat water, 173(69%) filtered water was safe for drinking, 162(65%) could share water sources with animals. However, they recommended 240(96%) boiling as the best way to process water, 200(80%) it was good to cover water for consumption and 183(73%) acknowledge the importance of having an educational program on water use. It was observed that, most of the water containers were unclean, close to latrines, never protected water sources, did not usually cover drinking water, but never shared water sources with animals. About purification, majority of the respondents never left water to settle to use it, never used chemicals, but boiled, filtered and refrigerated water for consumption. All in all, there was poor knowledge, negative attitude and poor practices of community members towards safe water use.
The researcher therefore recommends that; government and local administrators should promote education and sensitization programs on safe water use , avail safe water sources such as taps at friendly costs, community members should; fetch water from safe sources, protect water sources, maintain good hygiene of water containers and purify all water before use. | en_US |
