title: Impact of the safe water system on water quality in cyclone-affected communities in Madagascar.
abstract: Cyclone Hudah struck the northeastern coast of Madagascar in the spring of 2000. Over a 5-month period, 11 700 relief kits consisting of bottles of water disinfectant and foldable jerry cans were distributed to the affected population. Five months after the cyclone, a survey was conducted in 12 villages to determine the impact of these relief kits on water quality. Seventy-six percent of the surveyed households reported using jerry cans, and 65% reported using the disinfectant. Stored water in households using both products had significantly less microbiological contamination than stored water in other households. To improve the prospects for a sustainable intervention, the response plan for future disasters should incorporate a transition to recovery and development, including formative research into local customs, beliefs, and water handling habits, and funding support to initiate social marketing.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Recherches sur l'Environnement, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mong
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.lastname: Rasoatiana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Razafimbololona
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Quick
mesh_terms: D004190:Disasters; D004203:Disinfection; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards