Abstract
This paper focuses on the impacts of water stress on health outcomes. It specifically investigates the health effects of insufficiency of water for sanitary needs in drought-affected households. A focus group discussion that drew medical experts from such fields as medicine, virology, and microbiology was conducted to collect data. The findings of the study show that there is a possibility of vulnerability to negative health outcomes such as Cholera, Diarrhea, and respiratory problems by households that lack the necessary levels of water for domestic, sanitation, and hygiene uses. It is therefore important that individuals and households susceptible to the vagaries of drought be aware of this relationship so that they may forge necessary adaptive measures such as the use of purifiers, hand and surface sanitizers, and disinfectants to mitigate the health effects of a drought that are related to inadequate water use for sanitary purposes.
Highlights
The findings elicited from the experts who participated in the focus group discussion (FGD) will be presented and discussed under the following headings: (a) Drought and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-attributable deaths in infants and adults; (b) Water stress, hygiene, and respiratory diseases; and (c) Suggestions for water-stressed households
DROUGHT AND WASH-ATTRIBUTABLE DEATHS IN INFANTS AND ADULTS From the discussions held with the experts used for the study, there was a high degree of unanimity that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are is critical to health and well-being
Their view was that bacteria and other organic particles thrive in unhygienic environments, and they may lead to negative health outcomes
Summary
In Cape Town, Western Cape, for example, dry spells and intensely low rainfalls necessitated the need for the promulgation of a bylaw that strictly regulated water use by households and agro-allied and industrial businesses. These regulations became expedient as the city geared up to the possibility of being the first city to experience the anticipated Day Zero - a day that water would stop flowing from taps. For the 2015–2018 period, household water use per individual was pegged at 30 liters of water daily as against the normal 50 liters These curtailments made washing of cars and hosing sidewalks difficult, if not impossible, for many residents. This is the locus of the study; to analyze the health effects of domestic water rationing for hygiene requirements
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
