Intervención educativa sobre técnicas de purificación para el consumo y uso de agua segura, dirigido a los jefes de familia del cantón Zaruma, 2021

Abstract

Abstract: Access to good quality water in sufficient quantity is fundamental to the daily lives of every human being, and as such, it is a basic right. Nonetheless, a great percentage of Ecuadorian population do not have access to quality water. Objective:To develop a short-term educational intervention aiming to increase the population's knowledge about water purification for safe storage and consumption. Methods:A quasi-experimental study was designed in which one hundred family heads from two sectors of Zaruma participated. The data was gathered with Excel, and it was introduced in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25) for analysis. The results were described using central tendency measures. Results:The physico-chemical testing results showed that the water quality was within the limits permitted by INEN for human consumption. However, the results from the bacteriological culture revealed a substantial concentration of fecal coliform bacteria. After the educational intervention, the study group showed an improved level of knowledge about water purification techniques (p=0.000). Findings and recommendations: The population in the case-study areas in Zaruma does not have access to quality water. It is recommended to bring about educational interventions for the residents of the area to improve their knowledge of water purification techniques as well as increase the likelihood of the inhabitants using these water filtration methods.