Bringing the consumer to the table : a research tool -- assessing consumer perceptions & practice of household water treatment methods

To reduce diarrheal disease due to water contamination and achieve household and public health impact, water treatment methods must not only be efficacious in inactivating pathogens that cause diarrhea. They must be feasible and affordable to householders, and practiced consistently and correctly. Incorporating consumer perception and practice into household water treatment strategies is vital to creating effective and sustainable programs. HIP, together with the Network, has developed this tool for program planners to adapt and use in planning household water treatment strategies and programs. This formative research tool combines several qualitative and quantitative techniques to explore both consumer perception and practice regarding water storage and treatment. The tool"s overall objective is to guide strategy development for promoting household ("point-of-use" or PoU) water treatment methods. This may be part of an integrated hygiene improvement approach or a stand alone household water treatment promotion or marketing program. (Author abstract)