Abstract:
Introduction: Globally, it is estimated that 1.7 million people die annually through waterborne diseases caused by poor water quality and lack of basic sanitation and hygiene. The most affected are children under five years, particularly in developing countries, who often succumb to the ravages of diarrhea disease. Household water treatment and safe storage has been shown to be the most effectives means for control or reduce dearrhea disease.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess practices on treatment of drinking water and safe storage among women in KiuyuMbuyuni.
Methodology: The study was a cross sectional, quantitative study design. The study area was KiuyuMbuyuni, located in Micheweni, North District of Pemba Island. We interviewed 233 women to assess practices on water treatment and safe storage and the response rate was 98.7%.
Results: This study revealed that majority of women (77.8%) had low economic status. Nearly three-quarter of women (74.4%) treated drinking water by boiling and less than half (32%) by filtering. Results showed that 90.9% of women stored drinking water in a special room while only 21% stored water where children cannot reach. Nearly half (49.5%) of the interviewed women cleaned containers for stored drinking water every day and just half (53.5%) of them used cup without handle to take drinking water from the storage container. More than three-quarters (81.7%) of the women at KiuyuMbuyuni used bucket with lid as a method for storing drinking water compared with other methods like bucket without lid, small and jerry can.
Conclusion: Most common used methods for treating drinking water in KiuyuMbuyuni were boiling and filtering water, whereby safe storage of drinking water was kept in a special room. It is recommended that women should store treated water in a container with small mouth like jerry can and bucket with lid.
