Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji
Poor rural water quality is a health challenge in Fiji. A mixed-methods study in six iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) villages was conducted to understand local perceptions of drinking water access and quality, how this changes drinking water source choices, and impacts of age and gender. Seventy-two hou...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Water Practice and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/17/3/719 |
| _version_ | 1818015537428430848 |
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| author | Sarah Nelson Jacqueline Thomas Aaron Jenkins Kelera Naivalu Timoci Naivalulevu Vilisi Naivalulevu Kinikoto Mailautoka Shylett Anthony Mereia Ravoka Stacy D. Jupiter Sangeeta Mangubhai Pierre Horwitz Seye Abimbola Joel Negin |
| author_facet | Sarah Nelson Jacqueline Thomas Aaron Jenkins Kelera Naivalu Timoci Naivalulevu Vilisi Naivalulevu Kinikoto Mailautoka Shylett Anthony Mereia Ravoka Stacy D. Jupiter Sangeeta Mangubhai Pierre Horwitz Seye Abimbola Joel Negin |
| author_sort | Sarah Nelson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Poor rural water quality is a health challenge in Fiji. A mixed-methods study in six iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) villages was conducted to understand local perceptions of drinking water access and quality, how this changes drinking water source choices, and impacts of age and gender. Seventy-two household surveys, 30 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Household surveys revealed 41.7% of community members perceived their water as dirty and 76.4% perceived their water as clean. Two-thirds of households reported that they always or usually had enough water. FGDs and KIIs revealed water access and quality was influenced by population size, seasonality, and rainfall. Perceptions of water quality caused villages to shift to alternative water sources. Alignment of the qualitative and quantitative data identified four themes: sources and infrastructure, access, quality and contamination. There was mixed alignment of perceptions between access and quality between the household surveys, and KIIs and FGDs with partial agreement sources and infrastructure, and quality. Gender was found to influence perceptions of dirty water, contamination, and supply and demand. Perceptions of water quality and access shape decisions and choices for water sources and can be used to inform resilience and inclusive water strategies. HIGHLIGHTS
Seasonality impacts drinking water access and quality perceptions in Fijian villages.;
Limited drinking water supply and quality issues result in people needing to switch to alternative water sources.;
Grazing livestock and plantations near drinking water sources are perceived as sources of contamination.;
Perceptions of water quality highlight the importance of a participatory approach to the development of water safety plans.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:59:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4fba983594f4dee8f4fd62f7b16ee5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-231X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:59:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Practice and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4fba983594f4dee8f4fd62f7b16ee5a2022-12-22T02:06:48ZengIWA PublishingWater Practice and Technology1751-231X2022-03-0117371973010.2166/wpt.2022.022022Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in FijiSarah Nelson0Jacqueline Thomas1Aaron Jenkins2Kelera Naivalu3Timoci Naivalulevu4Vilisi Naivalulevu5Kinikoto Mailautoka6Shylett Anthony7Mereia Ravoka8Stacy D. Jupiter9Sangeeta Mangubhai10Pierre Horwitz11Seye Abimbola12Joel Negin13 School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Fisher Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney, Shepherd St, Darlington, NSW 2006, Australia School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Fisher Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Dr, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Fisher Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Fisher Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia Poor rural water quality is a health challenge in Fiji. A mixed-methods study in six iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) villages was conducted to understand local perceptions of drinking water access and quality, how this changes drinking water source choices, and impacts of age and gender. Seventy-two household surveys, 30 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Household surveys revealed 41.7% of community members perceived their water as dirty and 76.4% perceived their water as clean. Two-thirds of households reported that they always or usually had enough water. FGDs and KIIs revealed water access and quality was influenced by population size, seasonality, and rainfall. Perceptions of water quality caused villages to shift to alternative water sources. Alignment of the qualitative and quantitative data identified four themes: sources and infrastructure, access, quality and contamination. There was mixed alignment of perceptions between access and quality between the household surveys, and KIIs and FGDs with partial agreement sources and infrastructure, and quality. Gender was found to influence perceptions of dirty water, contamination, and supply and demand. Perceptions of water quality and access shape decisions and choices for water sources and can be used to inform resilience and inclusive water strategies. HIGHLIGHTS Seasonality impacts drinking water access and quality perceptions in Fijian villages.; Limited drinking water supply and quality issues result in people needing to switch to alternative water sources.; Grazing livestock and plantations near drinking water sources are perceived as sources of contamination.; Perceptions of water quality highlight the importance of a participatory approach to the development of water safety plans.;http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/17/3/719contaminationgendermixed-methodsrisk perceptionseasonality |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Nelson Jacqueline Thomas Aaron Jenkins Kelera Naivalu Timoci Naivalulevu Vilisi Naivalulevu Kinikoto Mailautoka Shylett Anthony Mereia Ravoka Stacy D. Jupiter Sangeeta Mangubhai Pierre Horwitz Seye Abimbola Joel Negin Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji Water Practice and Technology contamination gender mixed-methods risk perception seasonality |
| title | Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji |
| title_full | Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji |
| title_short | Perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in Fiji |
| title_sort | perceptions of drinking water access and quality in rural indigenous villages in fiji |
| topic | contamination gender mixed-methods risk perception seasonality |
| url | http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/17/3/719 |
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