Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan

Islam-ul-Haque; Munir Khan; Muhammad Shafqat; Shahid Durez

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

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Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan

Islam-ul-Haque, Munir Khan, Muhammad Shafqat, Shahid Durez

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 3-1)

Received: 15 April 2015 Accepted: 16 April 2015 Published: 12 May 2015

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Abstract

Arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious public health concern in Pakistan. Arsenic is an emerging serious issue at least in two provinces Punjab and Sindh where about 3% and 16% of water sources are contaminated with levels of arsenic over 50 ppb. The percentage of water sources with concentrations above the WHO level of 10 ppb is 20% and 36% respectively in Punjab and Sindh. Both shallow and deep sources have arsenic contamination and therefore testing of every water sources is necessary. A recent study on prevalence of arsenicosis confirmed presence of 40 cases in the study population giving a prevalence 140/100,00 for established and borderline cases. Keeping in mind its adverse impacts on human health, government with financial support of UNICEF launched various arsenic mitigation programmes and installations of various arsenic removal technologies, i,e household levels water filters, community based arsenic removal tank units and deep boring interventions. Unfortunately, all these interventions proved to be un-sustainable primarily due to devoid of community ownership. Lack of awareness, illiteracy and unfavorable socio-economic conditions make the end users in villages/rural areas, the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of any type of contaminated water. The overall increase in illiteracy rates in Pakistan, particularly in rural environment are the contributing factors which magnifies the mind set of arsenic affected communities to adopt safe drinking water best practices. Hence, there is a dire need to develop a sustainable and effective mechanism for Social & Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), including the development of communication support materials, within the government structure such as health, education, and social welfare, with the support from print & electronic media and civil society. Though lot of efforts were made yet the current level of awareness cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Thus keeping view the importance of behavioral change communications, comprehensive communication behavioral change strategies, based on Knowledge , Attitude & Practices ( KAP) were evolved and implemented in the arsenic hit areas to ensure community mobilization, participation and ownership which is an important aspect towards post arsenic mitigation projects sustainability.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 3-1) This article belongs to the Special Issue Ground Water Arsenic Contamination and Action Plan for Mitigation
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
Page(s)	56-66
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Behavioral Change Communication, Arsenic Effected Communities, Electronic and Print Media

References

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[2]	Brewer NT, Chapman GB, Gibbons FX, McCaul KD, Weinstein ND: Meta-analysis of the relationship between risk perception and health behavior: the example of vaccination. Health Psychology, Vol 26(2), Mar 2007, 136-145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.26.2.136.
[3]	Floyd DL, Prentice-Dunn S, Rogers RW: A meta-analysis of research on protection motivation theory. Journal of Applied Social Psychology Volume 30, Issue 2, pages 407–429, February 2000.
[4]	HRDS (HEALTH & RURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES) Annual Report 2014, Website: www.hrdsfoundation.org.pk Email: info@hrdsfoundation.org.pk
[5]	Islam ul Haque, Performance Assessment of Installed Arsenic Removal Technologies and Development of Protocol for Alternative Safe Drinking Water Supply Options for Arsenic Hit Areas of Pakistan, International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis 2015; 3(3-1): 31-42 Published online March 4, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijema) doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.14 ISSN: 2328-7659 (Print); ISSN: 2328-7667 (Online).
[6]	Mosler H-J: A systematic approach to behavior change interventions for the water and sanitation sector in developing countries: a conceptual model, a review, and a guideline. International Journal of Environmental Health Research Volume 22, Issue 5, 2012.
[7]	Orbell S, Verplanken B: The automatic component of habit in health behavior: habit as cue-contingent automaticity. Health Psychology, Vol 29(4), Jul 2010, 374-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0019596.
[8]	Schwarzer R: Modeling health behavior change: how to predict and modify the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors. Applied Psychology Volume 57, Issue 1, pages 1–29, January 2008.
[9]	Trafimow D, Sheeran P: Some tests of the distinction between cognitive and affective beliefs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Volume 34, Issue 4, July 1998, Pages 378–397.
[10]	Tobias R: Changing behavior by memory aids: a social psychological model of prospective memory and habit development tested with dynamic field data. Psychological Review, Vol 116(2), Apr 2009, 408-438. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0015512
[11]	Verplanken B, Wood W: Interventions to break and create consumer habits. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing: Spring 2006, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 90-103. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1509/jppm.25.1.90
[12]	Verplanken B, Melkevik O: Predicting habit: the case of physical exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2008, Pages 15–26.

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Islam-ul-Haque, Munir Khan, Muhammad Shafqat, Shahid Durez. (2015). Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(3-1), 56-66. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

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ACS Style

Islam-ul-Haque; Munir Khan; Muhammad Shafqat; Shahid Durez. Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(3-1), 56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

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AMA Style

Islam-ul-Haque, Munir Khan, Muhammad Shafqat, Shahid Durez. Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(3-1):56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17,
  author = {Islam-ul-Haque and Munir Khan and Muhammad Shafqat and Shahid Durez},
  title = {Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {56-66},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.s.2015030301.17},
  abstract = {Arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious public health concern in Pakistan. Arsenic is an emerging serious issue at least in two provinces Punjab and Sindh where about 3% and 16% of water sources are contaminated with levels of arsenic over 50 ppb. The percentage of water sources with concentrations above the WHO level of 10 ppb is 20% and 36% respectively in Punjab and Sindh. Both shallow and deep sources have arsenic contamination and therefore testing of every water sources is necessary. A recent study on prevalence of arsenicosis confirmed presence of 40 cases in the study population giving a prevalence 140/100,00 for established and borderline cases. Keeping in mind its adverse impacts on human health, government with financial support of UNICEF launched various arsenic mitigation programmes and installations of various arsenic removal technologies, i,e household levels water filters, community based arsenic removal tank units and deep boring interventions. Unfortunately, all these interventions proved to be un-sustainable primarily due to devoid of community ownership. Lack of awareness, illiteracy and unfavorable socio-economic conditions make the end users in villages/rural areas, the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of any type of contaminated water. The overall increase in illiteracy rates in Pakistan, particularly in rural environment are the contributing factors which magnifies the mind set of arsenic affected communities to adopt safe drinking water best practices. Hence, there is a dire need to develop a sustainable and effective mechanism for Social & Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), including the development of communication support materials, within the government structure such as health, education, and social welfare, with the support from print & electronic media and civil society. Though lot of efforts were made yet the current level of awareness cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Thus keeping view the importance of behavioral change communications, comprehensive communication behavioral change strategies, based on Knowledge , Attitude & Practices ( KAP) were evolved and implemented in the arsenic hit areas to ensure community mobilization, participation and ownership which is an important aspect towards post arsenic mitigation projects sustainability.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan
AU  - Islam-ul-Haque
AU  - Munir Khan
AU  - Muhammad Shafqat
AU  - Shahid Durez
Y1  - 2015/05/12
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 56
EP  - 66
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
AB  - Arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious public health concern in Pakistan. Arsenic is an emerging serious issue at least in two provinces Punjab and Sindh where about 3% and 16% of water sources are contaminated with levels of arsenic over 50 ppb. The percentage of water sources with concentrations above the WHO level of 10 ppb is 20% and 36% respectively in Punjab and Sindh. Both shallow and deep sources have arsenic contamination and therefore testing of every water sources is necessary. A recent study on prevalence of arsenicosis confirmed presence of 40 cases in the study population giving a prevalence 140/100,00 for established and borderline cases. Keeping in mind its adverse impacts on human health, government with financial support of UNICEF launched various arsenic mitigation programmes and installations of various arsenic removal technologies, i,e household levels water filters, community based arsenic removal tank units and deep boring interventions. Unfortunately, all these interventions proved to be un-sustainable primarily due to devoid of community ownership. Lack of awareness, illiteracy and unfavorable socio-economic conditions make the end users in villages/rural areas, the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of any type of contaminated water. The overall increase in illiteracy rates in Pakistan, particularly in rural environment are the contributing factors which magnifies the mind set of arsenic affected communities to adopt safe drinking water best practices. Hence, there is a dire need to develop a sustainable and effective mechanism for Social & Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), including the development of communication support materials, within the government structure such as health, education, and social welfare, with the support from print & electronic media and civil society. Though lot of efforts were made yet the current level of awareness cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Thus keeping view the importance of behavioral change communications, comprehensive communication behavioral change strategies, based on Knowledge , Attitude & Practices ( KAP) were evolved and implemented in the arsenic hit areas to ensure community mobilization, participation and ownership which is an important aspect towards post arsenic mitigation projects sustainability.
VL  - 3
IS  - 3-1
ER  -

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Author Information

Islam-ul-Haque

Chairman Ecological Sustainability through Environmental Protection Services, Islamabad, Pakistan
Munir Khan

Human Resource Development Society (HRDS), Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Shafqat

Human Resource Development Society (HRDS), Islamabad, Pakistan
Shahid Durez

Water and sanitation agency, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

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APA Style

Islam-ul-Haque, Munir Khan, Muhammad Shafqat, Shahid Durez. (2015). Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(3-1), 56-66. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

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ACS Style

Islam-ul-Haque; Munir Khan; Muhammad Shafqat; Shahid Durez. Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(3-1), 56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

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AMA Style

Islam-ul-Haque, Munir Khan, Muhammad Shafqat, Shahid Durez. Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(3-1):56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17,
  author = {Islam-ul-Haque and Munir Khan and Muhammad Shafqat and Shahid Durez},
  title = {Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {56-66},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.s.2015030301.17},
  abstract = {Arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious public health concern in Pakistan. Arsenic is an emerging serious issue at least in two provinces Punjab and Sindh where about 3% and 16% of water sources are contaminated with levels of arsenic over 50 ppb. The percentage of water sources with concentrations above the WHO level of 10 ppb is 20% and 36% respectively in Punjab and Sindh. Both shallow and deep sources have arsenic contamination and therefore testing of every water sources is necessary. A recent study on prevalence of arsenicosis confirmed presence of 40 cases in the study population giving a prevalence 140/100,00 for established and borderline cases. Keeping in mind its adverse impacts on human health, government with financial support of UNICEF launched various arsenic mitigation programmes and installations of various arsenic removal technologies, i,e household levels water filters, community based arsenic removal tank units and deep boring interventions. Unfortunately, all these interventions proved to be un-sustainable primarily due to devoid of community ownership. Lack of awareness, illiteracy and unfavorable socio-economic conditions make the end users in villages/rural areas, the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of any type of contaminated water. The overall increase in illiteracy rates in Pakistan, particularly in rural environment are the contributing factors which magnifies the mind set of arsenic affected communities to adopt safe drinking water best practices. Hence, there is a dire need to develop a sustainable and effective mechanism for Social & Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), including the development of communication support materials, within the government structure such as health, education, and social welfare, with the support from print & electronic media and civil society. Though lot of efforts were made yet the current level of awareness cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Thus keeping view the importance of behavioral change communications, comprehensive communication behavioral change strategies, based on Knowledge , Attitude & Practices ( KAP) were evolved and implemented in the arsenic hit areas to ensure community mobilization, participation and ownership which is an important aspect towards post arsenic mitigation projects sustainability.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Strategies for Community Awareness, Mobilization and Participation for Adoption of Arsenic Free Water Consumption Practices -Pakistan
AU  - Islam-ul-Haque
AU  - Munir Khan
AU  - Muhammad Shafqat
AU  - Shahid Durez
Y1  - 2015/05/12
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 56
EP  - 66
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.17
AB  - Arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious public health concern in Pakistan. Arsenic is an emerging serious issue at least in two provinces Punjab and Sindh where about 3% and 16% of water sources are contaminated with levels of arsenic over 50 ppb. The percentage of water sources with concentrations above the WHO level of 10 ppb is 20% and 36% respectively in Punjab and Sindh. Both shallow and deep sources have arsenic contamination and therefore testing of every water sources is necessary. A recent study on prevalence of arsenicosis confirmed presence of 40 cases in the study population giving a prevalence 140/100,00 for established and borderline cases. Keeping in mind its adverse impacts on human health, government with financial support of UNICEF launched various arsenic mitigation programmes and installations of various arsenic removal technologies, i,e household levels water filters, community based arsenic removal tank units and deep boring interventions. Unfortunately, all these interventions proved to be un-sustainable primarily due to devoid of community ownership. Lack of awareness, illiteracy and unfavorable socio-economic conditions make the end users in villages/rural areas, the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of any type of contaminated water. The overall increase in illiteracy rates in Pakistan, particularly in rural environment are the contributing factors which magnifies the mind set of arsenic affected communities to adopt safe drinking water best practices. Hence, there is a dire need to develop a sustainable and effective mechanism for Social & Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), including the development of communication support materials, within the government structure such as health, education, and social welfare, with the support from print & electronic media and civil society. Though lot of efforts were made yet the current level of awareness cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Thus keeping view the importance of behavioral change communications, comprehensive communication behavioral change strategies, based on Knowledge , Attitude & Practices ( KAP) were evolved and implemented in the arsenic hit areas to ensure community mobilization, participation and ownership which is an important aspect towards post arsenic mitigation projects sustainability.
VL  - 3
IS  - 3-1
ER  -

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