Water quality and hygiene behavior in Burkina Faso: The impact of locally produced sodium hypochlorite solution in schools

ABSTRACT

Introduction.Sodium hypochlorite is a crucial element in the water treatment process. We aimed to verify if schools that lack adequate access to water and don't provide hygiene education courses would improve water quality after an intervention program. Methods.Twenty schools from the rural area of Burkina Faso were equipped with electro-chlorinator devices that produce sodium hypochlorite and received training to make water drinkable. Data related to behavioral change was collected. In addition, microbiological analysis of fecal coliforms, total coliforms, and fecal streptococci was performed in the drinking water from water stations or water storage containers. These indicators were measured before and two years after the program in six schools that participated, paired with three control schools from the same region. Results.Before the intervention, no schools practiced treating their water. After intervention, schools did it daily. WASH courses and water treatment training were also observed in intervention schools. Only the samples belonging to the control schools contained microorganisms in the drinking water after the intervention, particularly fecal coliforms and total coliforms. Fecal streptococci were not detected in any of the samples analyzed. Before the intervention, 50% of water samples from the intervention group and 66% from the control group were contaminated with fecal coliforms. Conclusion.Schools became independent of external disinfectant production after receiving electro-chlorinator devices and proper training to comply with WASH measures. Our findings might be useful to public health practitioners trying to implement sustainable programs.