The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India
ABSTRACT Background and Aims The adverse health outcomes due to unsafe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) are a public health concern in low‐and middle‐income countries. However, evidence on how WaSH is associated with psychological outcomes is minimal. Insights on this association would help add...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70811 |
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| author | P. Padma Sri Lekha E. P. Abdul Azeez B. Latha Lavanya V. Kalyani Manoj Mathew S. Giri Prasath J. Leo Joshwin U. Nithyasree |
| author_facet | P. Padma Sri Lekha E. P. Abdul Azeez B. Latha Lavanya V. Kalyani Manoj Mathew S. Giri Prasath J. Leo Joshwin U. Nithyasree |
| author_sort | P. Padma Sri Lekha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background and Aims The adverse health outcomes due to unsafe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) are a public health concern in low‐and middle‐income countries. However, evidence on how WaSH is associated with psychological outcomes is minimal. Insights on this association would help address the well‐being of the slum population. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the association between knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of WaSH, water insecurity experiences, and sanitation‐related quality of life on the well‐being of individuals living in slums. Methods We used the KAP of WaSH, water insecurity experience scale, sanitation‐related quality of life scale, and WHO well‐being index to collect data from adult slum dwellers aged 18 years and above from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. We adopted a cross‐sectional study design and employed a systematic sampling procedure to select the households. The data was collected through a face‐to‐face household survey (n = 258; Male = 171; Female = 87). We employed a multiple regression model to understand the association of various factors with well‐being. Results The results indicated that a positive attitude toward WaSH and higher water insecurity experiences significantly reduced the well‐being of the slum dwellers. However, good WaSH practices (β = 0.37; 99% CI = 0.23–0.51) and sanitation‐related quality of life (β = 0.38; 99% CI = 0.25–0.50) led to good well‐being among slum‐dwellers. Also, the presence of toilets significantly contributed to the increase in well‐being and sanitation‐related quality of life. In summary, the accessibility to water sources, appropriate sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices increased the likelihood of well‐being among slum‐dwellers. Conclusion The results suggest that promoting adherence to proper WaSH practices, enhancing water security, and providing availability and access to toilet facilities for individuals living in slums are important to improving their well‐being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfdc6d444e394fd59fe4ced56266e0ea |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfdc6d444e394fd59fe4ced56266e0ea2025-08-20T03:44:46ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-07-0187n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70811The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From IndiaP. Padma Sri Lekha0E. P. Abdul Azeez1B. Latha Lavanya2V. Kalyani3Manoj Mathew4S. Giri Prasath5J. Leo Joshwin6U. Nithyasree7School of Social Sciences and Languages Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore Tamil Nadu IndiaSchool of Social Sciences and Languages Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore Tamil Nadu IndiaMEASI Institute of Management Chennai Tamil Nadu IndiaDepartment of Social Work Rajagiri College of Social Sciences Cochin Kerala IndiaDepartment of Social Work Kalinga University Raipur Chhattisgarh IndiaSchool of Social Sciences and Languages Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore Tamil Nadu IndiaSchool of Social Sciences and Languages Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore Tamil Nadu IndiaSchool of Social Sciences and Languages Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore Tamil Nadu IndiaABSTRACT Background and Aims The adverse health outcomes due to unsafe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) are a public health concern in low‐and middle‐income countries. However, evidence on how WaSH is associated with psychological outcomes is minimal. Insights on this association would help address the well‐being of the slum population. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the association between knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of WaSH, water insecurity experiences, and sanitation‐related quality of life on the well‐being of individuals living in slums. Methods We used the KAP of WaSH, water insecurity experience scale, sanitation‐related quality of life scale, and WHO well‐being index to collect data from adult slum dwellers aged 18 years and above from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. We adopted a cross‐sectional study design and employed a systematic sampling procedure to select the households. The data was collected through a face‐to‐face household survey (n = 258; Male = 171; Female = 87). We employed a multiple regression model to understand the association of various factors with well‐being. Results The results indicated that a positive attitude toward WaSH and higher water insecurity experiences significantly reduced the well‐being of the slum dwellers. However, good WaSH practices (β = 0.37; 99% CI = 0.23–0.51) and sanitation‐related quality of life (β = 0.38; 99% CI = 0.25–0.50) led to good well‐being among slum‐dwellers. Also, the presence of toilets significantly contributed to the increase in well‐being and sanitation‐related quality of life. In summary, the accessibility to water sources, appropriate sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices increased the likelihood of well‐being among slum‐dwellers. Conclusion The results suggest that promoting adherence to proper WaSH practices, enhancing water security, and providing availability and access to toilet facilities for individuals living in slums are important to improving their well‐being.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70811IndiaKAPmental Healthsanitation‐related quality of lifeWaSHwater Insecurity experience |
| spellingShingle | P. Padma Sri Lekha E. P. Abdul Azeez B. Latha Lavanya V. Kalyani Manoj Mathew S. Giri Prasath J. Leo Joshwin U. Nithyasree The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India Health Science Reports India KAP mental Health sanitation‐related quality of life WaSH water Insecurity experience |
| title | The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India |
| title_full | The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India |
| title_fullStr | The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India |
| title_short | The Well‐Being of Slum Dwellers Are Associated With WaSH‐Related Factors: A Cross‐Sectional Study From India |
| title_sort | well being of slum dwellers are associated with wash related factors a cross sectional study from india |
| topic | India KAP mental Health sanitation‐related quality of life WaSH water Insecurity experience |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70811 |
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