Introducing POU water treatment as part of a comprehensive approach to diarrhea treatment and management through a franchised health network in Bangladesh

While simple low-cost water treatment solutions for households have been available for a long time, behavior related to water treatment among populations without access to safe water has not changed significantly. There are multiple factors that affect water treatment, including the source of information about water treatment, time, cost, and the taste of treated water. The Bangladesh Smiling Sun Franchise Program (SSFP) aims to develop a service delivery based intervention that will help people understand the need for safe water and adopt critical behaviors intended to prevent recurrent diarrhea.

The SSFP model is based on a triangular approach that stresses offering its customers healthcare services while providing for an integral solution based on diagnostic, management, and treatment and prevention. SSFP has been working closely with ICCDR,B to establish an integrated approach in dealing with diarrhea. When a service provider deals with a diarrhea case, s/he diagnoses the severity of the case, prescribes adequate treatment, and delivers information and messages about water treatment and hand washing as preventive behaviors.

SSFP has a novel approach to health service delivery. Being a franchise requires constant negotiation between franchisor and franchisee and the dissemination of a new approach, such as including water treatment as a preventive measure, can be considered as a “diffusion of innovation.” This study will examine the process and speed of diffusion of this service delivery innovation and its acceptance within the social structure of the Smiling Sun Health Franchise in Bangladesh.