Avoidance Measures and Household Perceptions of Water Quality in Uganda

ABSTRACT

The importance that households place on reducing health risks from drinking water can guide policies intended to enhance safety. Self-reported household water quality opinions and avoidance measures used by households in Kampala, Uganda, to manage health risks were analyzed. The paper is based on survey data collected from four divisions in Kampala district and analyzed using binary logit model. Survey results indicate that the majority of the respondents boil water to manage potential health risks. On the other hand, logit results confirmed the existence of strong relationships between household characteristics, opinions on water quality, and the use of avoidance measures.