Water Source Preferences and Water Quality Perceptions among Women in the Eastern Region, Ghana: A Grounded Theory Study

Jhanel F. Chew, Laura Corlin, Fernando Ona, Sarah Pinto, Esther Fenyi-Baah, Bernard G. Osei and David M. Gute
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Jhanel F. Chew: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155, USA
Laura Corlin: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155, USA
Fernando Ona: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
Sarah Pinto: Department of Anthropology, School of Arts and Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
Esther Fenyi-Baah: Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Accra, Greater Accra, GA-057-0036, Ghana
Bernard G. Osei: Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands
David M. Gute: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Residents in the Eastern Region, Ghana with access to improved water sources (e.g., boreholes and covered wells) often choose to collect water from unimproved sources (e.g., rivers and uncovered wells). To assess why, we conducted two field studies to coincide with Ghana’s rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews among a convenience sample of 26 women in four rural communities (including one woman in the dry season). We asked each participant about their attitudes and perceptions of water sources. During the dry season, we observed four women for ≤4 days each to provide context for water collection and water source choice. We used a grounded theory approach considering the multiple household water sources and uses approach to identify three themes informing water source choice: collection of and access to water, water quality perception, and the dynamic interaction of these. Women selected water sources based on multiple factors, including season, accessibility, religious/spiritual messaging, community messaging (e.g., health risks), and ease-of-use (e.g., physical burden). Gender and power dynamics created structural barriers that affected the use of unimproved water sources. A larger role for women in water management and supply decision-making could advance population health goals.

Keywords: Ghana; improved water source; unimproved water source; water preferences; water management; rural water; ethnography; multiple household water sources and uses; seasonality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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