Changing rural communities behavior towards safe water and improved sanitation in Indonesia Kasri Rahmi yetri1,*, Kusnoputranto Haryoto2, Wirutomo Paulus3, Moersidik Setyo4 1School of Environmental Science, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta Campus, Indonesia 2Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok Campus, Indonesia 3Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Indonesia, Depok Campus, Indonesia 4Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok Campus, Indonesia *Correspondence Author: Rahmi Yetri Kasri School of Environmental Science, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI Salemba, Jalan Salemba Raya No. 4, Senen, Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia, 10430. E-Mail: rahmikasri@gmail.com; Phone: +6281299017688
Online published on 1 November, 2018. Abstract Objective To understand rural communities’ perception and attitudes on safe water and sanitation facilities. Additionally, provide evidence to showcase the impact access to safe water and improved sanitation facilities can have on rural communities. Design A case study with mix-method data collection through household surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs). Setting Two villages in Agam district, West Sumatera province, Indonesia, with contrasted performance on access to water and sanitation. Participants 227 household respondents, 7 FGDs and 15 in-depth interview informants. Main outcome measures To gain insight on respondents’ perception and attitudes toward safe water and improved sanitation, to design stages of behavioral change. Results Access to safe water and improved sanitation is not yet needed by rural communities due to insufficient information, nature condition, limited options for facilities, lack of reliable health workers and unclear policy. Behavioral change amongst community members requires more than awareness raising, it also needs planned activities, supplies and policy support with shared ownership between community and government. Conclusions Sanitarians are key stakeholders in rural water and sanitation. They hold important leadership in gradually changing rural people's behavior towards safe water and improved sanitation. Top Keywords Sanitarian, behavior change, sustainability, environmental health, evidence-based. Top |