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331413
Water Chlorination and Health Education: Collaborating to Decrease Water Contamination and Water-Related Illness in Rural Peru


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Katherine Garcia-Rosales, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cinthia Ennaco, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Alyssa Foust, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Priya Parikh, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Robert Kramer, Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Greg Raspanti, MPH, CPH, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Graciela Jaschek, PhD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD
Gretchen De Silva, PhD, MPH, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Elisabeth Maring, PhD, Department of Family Science, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD
David Lovell, PhD, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Stephanie Grutzmacher, PhD, Department of Family Studies, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Stephanie Olcese, Queens College, City of New York
A team of public health and engineering students and faculty worked collaboratively to conduct qualitative and quantitative research in a rural Andean community in Peru of approximately 62 households. The project consisted of three phases: 1) determining project feasibility and assessing the health needs of the community, 2) implementing a water chlorination system and educational health interventions, and 3) evaluating impact.

Five water samples were collected to measure E.coli and fecal coliform pre and post implementation. To assess the community needs, in-person interviews and a focus group evaluated the knowledge of proper water usage, hygiene practices and use of the chlorination system. Educational workshops covered oral rehydration therapy, proper water use, and basic hygiene. 

In the first phase, water samples tested positive for E.coli and fecal coliform. Seven months after the implementation the water tested negative for bacterial contamination.  In addition, the number of diarrhea related visits to the health clinic went down from four to two cases.

The data collected throughout all phases of the project show the water quality improved and the number of diarrheal cases decreased.  The results suggest that collaborative public health and engineering projects, such as the implementation of this water chlorination system and health education program, can have a positive effect on community health.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the innovative use of a health educational curriculum to enhance community health with the implementation of a chlorination system. Identify successful methods for assessing community needs.

Keyword(s): Community Health Assessment, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been project leader for this project focusing on assessing and evaluating the health needs of an Andean community in Peru. I have help lead a group of students and staff to assess, implement, evaluate a health education curriculum along with a water chlorination system.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5009.0: International/Global Health Poster Session