On September 4th 2023 the project team started a study on usage of ceramic water filters among selected households in the slum of Kibera, Nairobi.
Water contamination is a significant global issue, leading to severe health consequences, particularly among impoverished children. In regions with inadequate or nonexistent water infrastructure, low-tech point-of-use water purification methods are often the go-to solution for policy makers. Despite the proven cost-effectiveness of these technologies in reducing waterborne diseases and mortality, their usage remains disappointingly low.
In light of this, we have embarked on a study to explore whether providing easy-to-use and easy-to-interpret water contamination test kits can boost the usage of ceramic water filters. These filters are being distributed freely to 1,008 households in the informal settlement of Kibera, Nairobi.
Our study employs a clustered randomized controlled trial design (CRT). We aim to measure the amount of filtered water collected, as recorded by a domestic water meter installed inside each ceramic water filter. This will allow us to estimate the intervention’s causal effect on a series of health and non-health outcomes, including child diarrhea and wasting.
A key aspect of our study is to determine whether the effects of providing test kits vary depending on the test outcome (positive vs. negative) and/or the type of water tested (raw vs. filtered). This nuanced approach will enable us to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the adoption and effective use of water purification methods.
Through this study, we hope to contribute valuable insights that can guide policy makers in their efforts to combat water contamination and improve public health outcomes. Stay tuned for updates on our findings and their implications for water safety and health in regions like Kibera.
Pictures: Kibera informal settlement of Nairobi, 2023
(c) University of Hohenheim, Hamid R. Oskorouchi
SURE-FOOD Project 