Gender: effect of women’s perceptions and household practices on children’s waterborne illness in Lebanon

Updated - Friday 07 August 2009

Female children, who are generally more involved in household activities than male children, are at higher risk of suffering from diarrhoea. The prevalence of diarrhoea is 5%. This is one of the findings from a recent study [1] in Bebnine, an underserved town in Lebanon. Female caretakers’ personal hygiene, household practices, and perceptions of diarrhoea are additional risk factors. Intervention activities would be more effective if based on a better understanding of gender roles and household power relations.

An ecosystem approach to human health was adopted in this community-based study that examined the association between women’s household practices and diarrhoea among children in a setting where contaminated drinking water and intestinal diseases are common. A total of 280 women were randomly selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected on 712 children between the ages of 6 and 14. The study instrument included determinants of diarrhoea such as socio-demographic characteristics, water, sanitation, hygiene practices, gender variables, and behavioural risk factors.

[1] El Azar, GE … [et al.] (2009). Effect of women’s perceptions and household practices on children’s waterborne illness in a low income community. Ecohealth. Published online: 06 June 2009. DOI: 10.1007/s10393-009-0239-8

Related case study: Ramzy, M. (2007) Combating diarrhea in rural Lebanon : understanding water, understanding health : the case of Bebnine. Beirut, Lebanon, CoPEH-MENA, American University of Beirut. Download PDF file

Contact: Rima R. Habib, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, rima.habib@aub.edu.lb

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