Water, sanitation and hygiene practices among disaster-affected char land people: Bangladesh experience

Abstract

In the context of commonly limited research on the subject, this study intended to (i) identify the types, magnitude and impacts of disasters in the char land communities in Bangladesh, and (ii) unfolded their water, sanitation and hygiene practices. A quantitative research approach was employed for this study, where a survey method was used. Data were collected through a face-to-face structured interview from 392 household heads in 32 char lands from three north-west districts in Bangladesh. The results claimed that the char people were faced all common disasters that damaged their properties and increased low livelihoods and health problems. Though the households used safe water in all purposes, they had to depend on government, community or sharing water. They had to go a far way to collect water and that was a matter of the women security. The sanitation and hygiene facilities were found very poor in the char areas. The findings would be a useful guideline to the policymakers, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, health workers and development practitioners.