RISK PERCEPTION AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PREFERENCES FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER OUTPATIENTS AT HUSM KOTA BAHRU, KELANTAN
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Date
2012
Authors
AZLINA, AZLAN
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Safe drinking water source is the main topic discussed nowadays. Worldwide, food and water
borne diseases resulted from consuming unsafe drinking water source. The aim of this study is
to assess preference for safe drinking water, risk perception on safe drinking water and factors
associated with preference for safe drinking water among Hospital University Sains Malaysia
(HUSM) outpatient clinic attendees in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
METHOD
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 115 outpatient clinic attendees at HUSM from 1st
February to 30th April 2011. Convenient sampling was applied and face to face interview was
conducted among consented respondents. The questionnaire used consistad of sociodemographic
data, preference for drinking water, perception on drinking water quality and safe
drinking water, preventive measures taken and general knowledge on water and health.
RESULT
The proportion of preference for safe drinking water among HUSM outpatient clinic attendees is
low at 30.4% (95% CI: 0.22, 0.39) compared to preference of unsafe drinking water source
which is 69.6% (95% CI: 0.61, 0.78). The health risk perception toward safe drinking water is
almost equal between those who have high perceived health risks and those with low perceived
health which are 46.1% (95% CI: 0.37, 0.55) and 53.9% (95% CI: 0.45, 0.63) consecutively.
The significant associated factors for preference of safe drinking water are current used of
drinking water source and monthly household income status. Person who currently uses
municipal water supply as their drinking water source has 14.32 times odds to prefer safe
drinking water than person who uses other sources of drinking water (95% CI: 4.08,50.30, p
<0.001). Person with low monthly household income status has 4.38 times odds to prefer unsafe
drinking water than person who is below poverty line (95 % CI: 1.18, 16.19, p = 0.027).
Furthermore, person with middle household income status has 9.28 times odds for preference of
unsafe drinking water source than person who is below poverty line (95 % CI: 2.12, 40.59, p =
0.003).
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The proportion of preference of safe drinking water among HUSM outpatient clinic attendees is
low. Health risk perceptions toward safe drinking water are worrisome. Effective public
awareness campaigns and interventions to improve health risk perception, to build stronger
confidence toward municipal water sources will enable public to make good decision on safe
drinking water. Therefore, these will help to reduce incidence of health risk related to water
borne diseases.
Description
Keywords
PUBLIC HEALTH