Awareness and Practice Regarding Prevention of Water Borne Disease Among Earthquake Victims at Sindhupalchowk District

Abstract

This study was conducted in Sindhupalchok district which was severely affected by two high magnitude earthquakes and victims were living in a tent. They were at risk from outbreaks of water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases due to reduced access to safe water and sanitation systems. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness and practice on prevention of waterborne disease among earthquake victims. 

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 68 earthquake victims by using non probability purposive sampling technique. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data by interviewing. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis with Statistical  Package for Social Science version 16. 

The findings revealed that mean age of respondents was 35.82 ±11.63 years. The majority of them (52.9%) were female; 57.35% were literate; and 51.5% were housewives and involved in agriculture. Regarding awareness and practice, the majority (82.4%) were adequately aware and 17.6% were moderately aware about waterborne diseases. This study also showed  that 94.1% had good practice and 5.9% had moderate practice for the prevention of waterborne diseases. 

In conclusion, though most of the respondents was aware and had good practice on prevention of waterborne diseases, most of them drank water without purification. So local health facilities need to initiate awareness program on prevention of waterborne diseases especially on purification of water.