Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding utilization of safe water and effectiveness of community RO water among rural population of Punjab

Contamination of ground water in Malwa region of Punjab has been in focus for at least last two decades. Higher than national incidence of cancer in Malwa region (107 against a national average of 80 per 100, 000 population) is considered due to chemical contamination of ground water in this region. To ensure provision of potable water to rural Punjab, State government installed 1881 Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants in affected districts. Although 180 crores of rupees have been spent on installation of these RO plants, no study has been undertaken to evaluate the project. The present study attempts to fill this knowledge gap by quantifying the extent of utilization of Community RO plants, and assessing knowledge and attitude regarding this scheme of government.

One thousand rural households in two districts of Malwa region were randomly selected to study the knowledge, attitude and practices of target population towards Community RO plants and their utilization through a cross-sectional study.

The study revealed that 50.7% of households were consuming water from the Community RO plants, although the awareness regarding contaminated ground water in the region, and potential of contaminated water to cause diseases were much higher. The reasons for this knowledge-practice gap are highlighted. Most common of which are non-availability of any family member for fetching the water (32%), un-affordability (18%), distance of RO plant (15%) and disliking the taste of water (17%).

The study shows that any health program to fulfill felt-need of community should be piloted, and planned and implemented with community involvement, otherwise it is doomed to fail as the case of Community RO plants in Punjab where the utilization is mere 50% in spite of positive knowledge and attitude of the people.