Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340
Volume 2, Number 2 (2015) : 1-7
©Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
www.aryapgcollege.com, www.apcjournals.com

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Practices amongst Slum Girls of Chandigarh

1 Dr. Ritu Pradhan & 2 Monika
1Assistant Professor,2 Post Graduate Student
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Government Home Science College, Chandigarh (India)
E-mail: sharmapritu@yahoo.com

Abstract

The present cross sectional study on water sanitation and hygiene practices amongst slum girls of Chandigarh was conducted amongst 500 girls between the age group of 6 to 12 years due to limited availability of scientific data. The data were collected using a self designed, pre tested, structured, semi open ended questionnaire which included demographic profile and questions related to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices of respondents. Assessment of nutritional status was done using BMI classification (WHO 2007). Majority of respondents were in the age group of 8 years and 90 per cent of the respondents belonged to floating population category. More than fifty per cent used to live in pucca houses and used to avail the facility of community taps. Sixty per cent had appropriate toilet facility. The mean BMI of the subjects was 18.6 kg/m². Significant association was found between BMI and type of houses.
Water and Sanitation practices may further be improved as poor living conditions may compromise the health and nutritional status of the children. Hence, education regarding water, sanitation, hygiene and nutritional knowledge should be imparted through nutritional programs and the school curriculum in order to help them to improve and maintain their health.

Keywords: BMI, Nutritional Status, Sanitation, Slums, WASH.