title: Water and sanitation hygiene knowledge attitude practice in urban slum settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Access to improved drinking water, sanitation and hygiene is one of the prime concerns around the globe. This study aimed at assessing water and sanitation hygiene-related attitude and practices, and quality of water in urban slums of south Delhi, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot cross sectional study was performed during July 2013 across four urban slums of South Delhi. A convenient sample of 40 participants was enrolled. A modified version of previously validated questionnaire was used to gather information on socio-demographics, existing water and sanitation facilities and water treatment practices. Water quality testing was additionally performed using hydrogen sulphide (H2S) vials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average age of participants was 36 years (SD=10). 83% of the participants perceived gastrointestinal tract infection as the most important health problem. 75% of the participants did not use any method for drinking water treatment. 45% of the participants consumed water from privately-owned tube well/ bore well. Water shortage lasted two days or more (50%) at a stretch with severe scarcity occurring twice a year (40%). Females aged 15 years and above were largely responsible (93%) for fetching water from water source. 45% of the participants had toilets within their households. 53% of drinking water samples collected from storage containers showed positive bacteriological contamination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an urgent need to develop family centered educational programs that would enhance awareness about water treatment methods that are cost effective and easily accessible.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center. ajoshi@cphi.ac.in.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Jyoti B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kasav
authors.forename: Mehak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segan
authors.forename: Awnish K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012499:Sanitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health; D060753:Water Quality; D014881:Water Supply