Community In Northeast Brazil Research Articles

Racial disparities and COVID-19: socio-environmental and health conditions in quilombola communities in northeastern Brazil

COVID-19 is not associated with a particular population group. Groups like the quilombolas, larger health dimensions. The objective of the study was to analyze the existence of an association between COVID-19 and socio-environmental and health conditions in quilombola communities. The research was carried out in four rural quilombola communities in Northeast Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, developed between January and August 2021, in which 120 quilombolas who underwent RT-PCR laboratory test for COVID-19 were interviewed. The prevalence of COVID-19 was 25.8% and the age of the individuals ranged from 18 to 78 years, with a mean of 41 ± 13.7 years. Among the socio-environmental and health variables, the symptoms of shortness of breath and diarrhea were associated with the disease. Aquatic leisure presented a protective factor for COVID-19. Educational and health promotion measures are necessary to control the spread of the disease and to prevent health problems in quilombola communities.

New evidence regarding the role of previous disease experiences on people’s knowledge and learning of medicinal plants and biomedical drugs

Background: What factors influence the knowledge and learning of medicinal plants and biomedical drugs? We investigated this question in a context of intermedicality, exploring previous experiences and the duration of diseases at the individual, family, and community levels. Methods: We conducted our study in a rural community in Northeast Brazil. We use individual semi-structured interviews to gather information on people’s knowledge and learning of medicinal plants and biomedical medications, as well as their prior experiences perceived with diseases at different levels (individual, family, community) and their duration perceived. Results: The knowledge of medicinal plants can be explained mainly by the previous experience of the disease in the community and the family. For medicinal plant learning in one year, only the previous experience in the community is relevant, but it had a negative influence. Regarding the knowledge of biomedical drugs, we observed positive influence of previous experiences in the family and community and negative influence of the diseases’ duration. Finally, none of the predictor variables explained the learning of knowledge of drugs of biomedical origin. Conclusions: The present study suggests important mechanisms that regulate the knowledge and learning of new treatments (medicinal plants and medicines of biomedical origin) in medical systems. Keywords: Evolutionary Ethnobiology, previous experience, risk perception, local medical systems, biomedical system.

Comunidade rural do Nordeste brasileiro: um cenário de reflexão para a formulação de políticas de desenvolvimento local e empreendedorismo sustentável

Abstract This article analyzes experiences of sustainable entrepreneurship in the José Gomes rural community in Northeast Brazil, reflecting on the relevance of local development policies in the construction of local collective projects. This qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study adopted rapport techniques, semi-structured interviews (82 dwellers), direct observation, field diary, and bibliographic research. Local development policies were understood as mechanisms for advances and improvements in the quality of life, economic organization, and environmental conservation, which must be incorporated into municipal planning and governmental actions. The results pointed to socio-productive potentials and structural and infrastructural limitations, which hamper the possibilities of spreading sustainable entrepreneurship and consolidating local development.

The rural community in Northeast Brazil: a scenario of reflection to formulate local development and sustainable entrepreneurship policies

Resumo Este artigo pretende analisar experiências de empreendedorismo sustentável na comunidade rural José Gomes, Nordeste do Brasil, e promover uma reflexão sobre a relevância das políticas de desenvolvimento local na construção de projetos coletivos regionais. Este estudo caracteriza-se como exploratório e descritivo na abordagem qualitativa. Para tanto, foram utilizados técnicas rapport, entrevistas semiestruturadas (82 moradores), observação direta e diário de campo, além de pesquisas bibliográficas. A pesquisa abordou as políticas de desenvolvimento local como mecanismos de avanço e melhoria na qualidade de vida, na organização econômica e na conservação do meio ambiente, que devem ser incorporadas ao planejamento municipal e às ações do poder público. Os resultados apontaram potencialidades socioprodutivas e limitações estruturais e infraestruturais que esgotam as possibilidades de difusão do empreendedorismo sustentável e a consolidação do desenvolvimento local.

Reconciling scientific and local ecological knowledge to identify priority mammals for conservation in a dry forest area in northeast Brazil

Species prioritization for conservation is primarily based on extinction risk assessments but less on sociocultural factors that influence conservation effectiveness. Here, we prioritized mammals for conservation according to their need for conservation attention, the feasibility of their conservation, and their potential to be used as flagship species in a rural community in northeast Brazil. We assessed species occurrence and ethnobiology through interviews, camera trapping, and active searches, and developed a prioritization scheme that accounts for species’ threat level (conservation status and local hunting pressure), cultural importance, and popularity. We found Tolypeutes tricinctus as the overall top-priority species because of its Endangered status and high popularity, which makes its conservation needed and feasible, and this species a potential conservation flagship. Panthera onca was the highest priority regarding the need for conservation attention due to its Critically Endangered status but the least feasible to conserve as it was the most unpopular species. Mazama gouazoubira was the most hunted and popular species. Despite not being threatened, it may also be prioritized for conservation, given its high hunting pressure and popularity, thereby constituting a possible local flagship species. Our results show that priority species for conservation can be reliably identified based on measures of need for conservation attention and expected conservation feasibility in local scales using rapid assessments. Accounting for ethnobiology in species prioritization for conservation allows a better understanding of the needs, opportunities, and obstacles for their conservation, consequently leading to better resource-allocation decisions in different socio-economic scenarios.

Cultural consensus and intracultural diversity in ethnotaxonomy: lessons from a fishing community in Northeast Brazil

BackgroundTraditional fishing communities are strongholds of ethnobiological knowledge but establishing to what degree they harbor cultural consensus about different aspects of this knowledge has been a challenge in many ethnobiological studies.MethodsWe conducted an ethnobiological study in an artisanal fishing community in northeast Brazil, where we interviewed 91 community members (49 men and 42 women) with different type of activities (fishers and non-fishers), in order to obtain free lists and salience indices of the fish they know. To establish whether there is cultural consensus in their traditional knowledge on fish, we engaged a smaller subset of 45 participants in triad tasks where they chose the most different fish out of 30 triads. We used the similarity matrices generated from the task results to detect if there is cultural consensus in the way fish were classified by them.ResultsThe findings show how large is the community’s knowledge of fish, with 197 ethnospecies registered, of which 33 species were detected as salient or important to the community. In general, men cited more fish than women. We also found that there was no cultural consensus in the ways fish were classified.ConclusionsBoth free-listing and triad task methods revealed little cultural consensus in the way knowledge is structured and how fish were classified by community members. Our results suggest that it is prudent not to make assumptions that a given local community has a single cultural consensus model in classifying the organisms in their environment.

A qualitative study to explore health literacy skills in older people from a disadvantaged community in Brazil.

We aim to describe older peoples' experiences of accessing, understanding, communicating and appraising health information in the context of primary care in a disadvantaged community in North-East Brazil. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 42 older people at two primary healthcare units in the city of Arapiraca, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were guided by a qualitative health literacy instrument, translated and adapted for use in Brazil. Of the 42 participants, 30 were women and the majority (n = 32) were 60-69 years of age. Qualitative analysis identified that participants had difficulties accessing, understanding and communicating health information, often in the context of chronic disease. Few participants demonstrated an understanding about their specific health concerns, and most had difficulty explaining and interpreting health conditions more generally. Most participants indicated that they did not actively seek health information and this was compounded by physicians who were reported to provide limited information about diagnosis and treatment of health conditions. More than half of the participants reported that they did not understand medical terms included in health information, but most reported that they took no action to clarify understanding. In conclusion, we observed that conventional health literacy skills are very poor in this population of older Brazilians living in a disadvantaged community, with many resigned to not receiving health information or relying on sources other than health professionals. The findings from this study speak to the need for health literacy interventions targeting older adults in Brazil. A two-tiered approach which seeks to reduce the demands and complexities placed upon patients within the healthcare system but also targets interventions toward building the skills and capacities of individuals is likely to be most effective.

Relationship between impulsivity and aggressiveness with mental disorders and suicide risk in cocaine/crack users

the purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between impulsivity/aggressivity traits and mental disorders in cocaine/crack users. A non-probabilistic sample of the 106 subjects from an out-patient center for homeless people and three therapeutics communities in Northeast Brazil was investigated. The version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0 was used to assess lifetime psychiatric disorder. Impulsivity and aggressiveness were used in the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), respectively. Individuals in cocaine/crack use report heightened levels impulsive and aggressive behavior. Linear regression results showed a positive correlation between total impulsivity and abuse of alcohol in our population. Considering impulsivity subscores, low levels of motor impulsivity, suicide risk, generalized anxiety disorder and antisocial personality disorder were negatively correlated. Past hypomanic episode was correlated positively with high non-planning impulsivity scores. These findings highlight the need for a continual investigation of mental disorder and its link with aggressive and impulsive personality traits in the cocaine/crack patients and these data can contribute to stratification for continuity treatment for these patients. Aggressiveness was correlated inversely with suicide risk, psychotic, mood and anxiety disorders. These findings highlight the need for a continual investigation of mental disorder and its link with aggressive and impulsive personality traits in the cocaine/crack patients and these data can contribute to stratification for continuity treatment for these patients.

Centenary shipwrecks reveal the limits of artificial habitats in protecting regional reef fish diversity

AbstractThe sinking of artificial structures has become increasingly common around the world, but whether the artificial structures favour or disfavour fish diversity remain under debate. Sinking may empty the nearby natural reefs locally and regionally by attracting their biota. Conversely, it may improve environmental conditions for species survival and reproduction, acting as source of diversity at the local and regional levels.We tested these contrasting hypotheses by assessing the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of 12 fish communities in Northeast Brazil: four ageing (>100‐year‐old) shipwrecks and eight surrounding natural reefs at comparable depths and distances. We partitioned the gamma diversity of artificial and natural reef communities into independent alpha and beta components, accounted for species’ abundance and assessed whether beta patterns were mostly driven by spatial turnover or nestedness.We recorded 6,335 individuals distributed in 88 fish species and 38 families. While artificial and natural reefs shared 50 species (57%), 21 species (24%) were exclusive to the artificial reefs, suggesting that the nearby natural reefs—the most likely original source of these exclusive species—do not harbour them anymore. Alpha diversity of typical and dominant species did not significantly differ between the reef types, but alpha diversity of rare species was taxonomically, functionally and phylogenetically higher in artificial reefs, indicating positive effects of the structures at the local scale.By contrast, regional beta diversity was higher in natural reefs in terms of taxonomic and functional diversity, regardless of species abundance. Pairwise beta diversity indicated that turnover had a large effect on the compositional dissimilarity in both reef types, whereas nestedness was almost irrelevant in artificial reefs.Synthesis and applications. Artificial structures such as shipwrecks may promote the co‐occurrence of rare species, but they are unable to produce the beta diversity patterns that natural reefs do, even following many decades of colonization. Although artificial habitats host a significant portion of the regional reef fish diversity, they may have also contributed to the degradation of nearby natural reefs. We recommend the establishment of regulated diving spots, fishing grounds and no‐take areas as a strategy to conserve regional fish diversity.

Aspectos socioambientais e doenças relacionadas à água contaminada em comunidades vulneráveis no Nordeste do Brasil

The aim of this investigation was to analyse the perception of waterborne diseases and socioeconomic and environmental aspects of Quilombolas in vulnerable communities in Northeast Brazil, as the research was conducted in three vulnerable communities located in this area. The study was sectional regarding quantitative approach and was carried out from September 2018–August 2019 through interviews with 164 individuals and the analysis of drinking water quality. The highest prevalence was intestinal parasitic diseases (57%), primarily Schistosoma mansoni (20%). The interviews revealed that 27% of individuals used drinking water from the general distribution network and 26% from a well/spring outside the residence. Of these, 39% did not undergo any treatment before ingestion. Of the 10 water samples collected for microbiological analysis, there was growth of heterotrophic bacteria (53%), faecal coliforms (50%) and thermotolerant bacteria (7%). Study participants were subject to environmental characteristics that made them vulnerable to health issues. The promotion of health actions and the implementation of measures related to the treatment and storage of drinking water are tools that can combat the occurrence of diseases.

Morphobiometry and Ecophysiology of Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (Pequi) in Cerrado Areas of Northeast Brazil

Many studies have reported that native plant species can contribute to ensuring food security in the world. Among the Brazilian species, the Caryocar coriaceum has a high utility value for the communities in Northeast Brazil but it is under threat due to the degradation of the Cerrado savannah. One way to mitigate threats is to produce large-scale seedlings. Thus, it was attempted to evaluate methods to overcome dormancy of C. coriaceum to increase and standardize germination and to analyze its morphobiometric characteristics. The fruits were weighed, measured and subjected to the selected treatments. Tests were performed to overcome dormancy The fruits were planted at a depth of 5 cm. The results showed that the fruits of C. coriaceum presented asymmetric frequency distribution with high variability for the characteristic of weight. However, a marked variation of the literature data was found. About the germination treatments tested in the laboratory, none was effective in overcoming dormancy, which may be due to the presence of inhibitory substances. Concerning seed planting, a germination index of 35% was recorded after 12 months. The conclusions suggest that there is a high phenotypic variability of the genus in the cerrado and probably the presence of germination inhibitors in seeds of this species, which should be addressed to ensure germination.

Medicinal flora cultivated in backyards of a community in Northeast Brazil

Background: Medicinal plants represent the oldest form used by humanity in the prevention and/or cure of their illnesses. They have low cost, are culturally widespread and can be cultivated in backyards. Methods: The objective was to know which medicinal plants are used and grown in homegardens, as well as its indication and the parts used by the residents of the Lagoa da Prata Community, in the municipality of Parnaiba, Piaui. 174 people were interviewed, a total of 91 homegardens. Data were collected for direct data collection, structured interview, guided tours, photographic records, interview recordings, field journal annotations, Value of Use (VU) and Relative Importance (RI). Results: The survey recorded 30 plants, distributed in 19 families The species with higher VU were Gossypium hirsutum L. (1.28), Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants (1.12) e Ocimum gratissimum L. (1.12). Conclusions: This way, it was observed that the interviewees cultivated a variety of plant species used to treat a large number of diseases.

Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on the Knowledge and Consumption of Firewood in the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil

We aim to evaluate whether socioeconomic factors influence the knowledge, use, preference, and consumption of firewood in a rural community in Northeast Brazil. We conducted semi-structured interviews with heads of households to obtain socioeconomic data and measured daily consumption of firewood using in situ inventories during two distinct periods of the year. We performed GLM analyses to determine if the socioeconomic variables influence the knowledge, use, preference, and consumption of firewood per capita, per residence, and for the community over daily, monthly, and annual periods. The interviewees cited a total of 87 ethnospecies as known, 47 as used, and 29 as preferred for firewood. Age was the only variable that influenced species richness, whereas wood consumption was influenced by income, schooling, and number of residents. Although there is uniformity within the community in relation to cognitive aspects of richness known, used, and preferred, the consumption of firewood was influenced by socioeconomic factors.

Por uma política do ínfimo: relações étnico-raciais em suas interfaces com a Educação Matemática

A maioria da população brasileira é constituída por pessoas que se reconhecem negras ou pardas. Apesar disso, os processos de discriminação e preconceito contra as pessoas e a cultura afrodescendentes fazem parte do cotidiano, inclusive em situações educacionais escolares. Este artigo problematiza, a partir de uma perspectiva foucaultiana, alguns aspectos do racismo e de suas repercussões. No que diz respeito à noção de raça, Foucault argumenta que este conceito, com sua vinculação aos aspectos biológicos, vai aparecer somente no final do século XIX com a ideia de uma superioridade entre as raças. O artigo apresenta elementos de pesquisas que analisaram aspectos do racismo em textos e imagens presentes nos livros didáticos e microagressões. tais como risadas e deboches presentes em piadas que inferiorizam o “outro”. O texto também problematiza as ressonâncias das políticas públicas, em especial a lei 10.639, e discute aspectos da Afroetnomatemática como uma possibilidade de dar visibilidade aos estudos das matemáticas criadas no continente africano e articuladas com as discussões étnico-raciais nas práticas escolares e na educação matemática. Para contribuir com a problematização desenvolvida, trazem-se aspectos de um estudo de campo realizado em escola de uma comunidade Quilombola do Nordeste brasileiro. As reflexões deste artigo nos sinalizam a necessidade de, no currículo escolar, estarem presentes diferentes formas de matematizar o mundo, todavia com o cuidado de que tal incorporação possa empoderar o outro e não subordiná-lo a matemática hegemônica. Neste sentido, o artigo defende a ideia de considerarmos uma política do ínfimo que dê conta de analisar os micropoderes que incidem sobre nossas práticas no âmbito escolar.

Risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in an urban community in Northeast Brazil and the relationship between the infection and gastric diseases.

Helicobacter pylori, a water contaminant, is the primary pathogenic agent associated with gastric diseases in humans. Exposure to H. pylori is more likely higher in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with H. pylori infection in patients undergoing endoscopy to validate the cause of dyspeptic symptoms in an urban population in northeast Brazil and to compare the urease test and polymerase chain reaction assay results with the histopathological findings. We evaluated 200 of 759 individuals with dyspeptic complaints from Campina Grande, State of Paraiba, northeast Brazil. Patients underwent endoscopy, followed by gastric biopsies. Logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounders and to determine significant risk factors of dyspeptic disorders. Women accounted for 72.5% (145/200) of the participants. Approximately 59.8% (120/200) of the samples tested positive for H. pylori based on histological examinations. The specificity of polymerase chain reaction assay was higher than that of the urease test (77% vs. 64%, p=0.034). City drinking water [odds ratio (OR): 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-5.21; p=0.004] and smoking (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 1.13-14.5; p=0.031) were the risk factors of H. pylori infection. Belching was the most common symptom associated with H. pylori infection (p=0.05). The increased risk of H. pylori infection associated with non-treated water consumption indicates the need for improvements in public water treatment and better sanitary conditions because these can be a source of not only H. pylori infections but also other water-borne pathogen infections.

Engaging Human Rights in the Response to the Evolving Zika Virus Epidemic.

In late 2015, an increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly in poor communities in northeast Brazil prompted investigation of antenatal Zika infection as the cause. Zika now circulates in 69 countries, and has affected pregnancies of women in 29 countries. Public health officials, policymakers, and international organizations are considering interventions to address health consequences of the Zika epidemic. To date, public health responses have focused on mosquito vector eradication, sexual and reproductive health services, knowledge and technology including diagnostic test and vaccine development, and health system preparedness. We summarize responses to date and apply human rights and related principles including nondiscrimination, participation, the legal and policy context, and accountability to identify shortcomings and to offer suggestions for more equitable, effective, and sustainable Zika responses.

Commiphora leptophloeos Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Characterization.

Commiphora leptophloeos is a plant specie usually known for its medicinal purposes in local communities in Northeast Brazil. In order to evaluate its therapeutic potential, we aimed to determine the phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of C. leptophloeos extracts. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was able to detect the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and reducing sugars. Three phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC and described as Gallic, Chlorogenic and Protocatechuic acids. On the other hand, H1NMR analysis revealed the presence of hinokinin, a bioactive lignan further characterized in the present work. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for hinokinin ranged from 0.0485 to 3.125 mg/mL in different S. aureus clinical isolates and showed a bactericidal activity against MRSA isolated from blood (MMC 0.40 mg/mL) and postoperative secretion (MMC = 3.125 mg/mL). C. leptophloeos extracts also showed antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium species such as M. smegmatis (MIC = 12.5 mg/mL) and M. tuberculosis (MIC = 52 mg/mL). Additionally, we determined the toxicity of C. leptophloeos by in vitro HC50 tests with hemolytic activity detected of 313 ± 0.5 μg/mL. Our results showed that C. leptophloeos possesses inhibitory properties against MRSA as well as several other clinically important microorganisms. Furthermore, the present work is the first report of the presence of hinokinin in Commiphora genus.

Early Childhood Diarrhea Predicts Cognitive Delays in Later Childhood Independently of Malnutrition.

Understanding the complex relationship between early childhood infectious diseases, nutritional status, poverty, and cognitive development is significantly hindered by the lack of studies that adequately address confounding between these variables. This study assesses the independent contributions of early childhood diarrhea (ECD) and malnutrition on cognitive impairment in later childhood. A cohort of 131 children from a shantytown community in northeast Brazil was monitored from birth to 24 months for diarrhea and anthropometric status. Cognitive assessments including Test of Nonverbal Intelligence (TONI), coding tasks (WISC-III), and verbal fluency (NEPSY) were completed when children were an average of 8.4 years of age (range = 5.6-12.7 years). Multivariate analysis of variance models were used to assess the individual as well as combined effects of ECD and stunting on later childhood cognitive performance. ECD, height for age (HAZ) at 24 months, and weight for age (WAZ) at 24 months were significant univariate predictors of the studies three cognitive outcomes: TONI, coding, and verbal performance (P < 0.05). Multivariate models showed that ECD remained a significant predictor, after adjusting for the effect of 24 months HAZ and WAZ, for both TONI (HAZ, P = 0.029 and WAZ, P = 0.006) and coding (HAZ, P = 0.025 and WAZ, P = 0.036) scores. WAZ and HAZ were also significant predictors after adjusting for ECD. ECD remained a significant predictor of coding (WISC III) after number of household income was considered (P = 0.006). This study provides evidence that ECD and stunting may have independent effects on children's intellectual function well into later childhood.

Spondias tuberosa (Anacardiaceae) leaves: profiling phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.

Spondias tuberosa is a medicinal plant used by several local communities in northeast Brazil to treat infections, digestive disorders and inflammatory conditions. The study aimed to identify and quantify the major phenolic in hydroethanolic extract of leaves from S. tuberosa and to evaluate its anti-inflammatory potential. The chemical profile of extract was analyzed by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and peritonitis models in mice. Identified and quantified through HPLC-DAD or HPLC-MS analyses of S. tuberosa extract were the following compounds: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin and isoquercitrin. The inflammatory response to carrageenan was significantly reduced in both models by S. tuberosa extract. In hind paw edema, the edematogenic response was reduced by up to 63.6% and the myeloperoxidase activity was completely inhibited. In the peritonitis model, the total cell migration into the peritoneal cavity was reduced by up to 65%. The results obtained give evidence of the anti-inflammatory action of S. tuberosa and suggest the potential therapeutic benefit of this plant on inflammatory conditions. The chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin and isoquercitrin identified and quantified in S. tuberosa leaves enable us to suggest that these compounds could be used as chemical markers for quality control of derivative products from this species. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Water Meters and Monthly Bills Meet Rural Brazilian Communities: Sociological Perspectives on Technical Objects for Water Management

Lasting solutions for communities in need of improved water and sanitation services—notably rural ones—depend on a balanced consideration of what some have called natural, technical, and social factors. Worldwide deficits in access to appropriate water services in rural areas highlight the need to develop sustainable management models, which are increasingly being proposed with an emphasis on local user participation. The current research analyzes a case study of two rural communities in Northeast Brazil who recently began receiving water supply services through the SISAR, a state-affiliated organization underpinned by shared management with local actors. Using sociological frameworks based conceptually in Actor-Network Theory, the study’s main objectives aimed to characterize what changes—if any—the application of the SISAR’s model would produce upon local dynamics, be them wide-scale or intra-household. Field research was carried out over three months in 2014, in which the researcher interviewed a handful of professionals and several dozens of local residents during an extended in situ research phase. Our study finds that two technical factors (the water meter and monthly bill) were at the heart of key tensions and uncertainty for users in the new water management model. Lacking appropriate guidance, users acquainted themselves with these technical objects with what personal resources, interests, and intuitions they possessed. Users were without instruction on how the meter worked, how to understand the bill, and did not know that a price table even existed. Consequently, users revealed unknown qualities of these objects that countered the service provider’s intentions to rationalize water use, and adopted attitudes and behaviors marked by subjective impressions of precaution and frugality. The findings show that technical objects have no self-evident qualities to users and, thus, users must learn or be taught how to interact with them in such a way as to produce desired outcomes. Rushed attempts at establishing low-cost, so-called participative models may indeed have heavy consequences. The most significant of which is an unfavorable climate for the formation of societies where informed individuals collectively possess the tools required to grasp the situations they live within and manage sustainable water supply systems. Awareness of one’s environmental impact is predicated on knowledge of one’s consumption. Thus, this research contributes to development-related discussions by demonstrating that producing particular user attitudes and behaviors on a mass scale vis-a-vis resource consumption requires regular efforts to understand and mediate the encounter between users and non-human actants.