Year: 2026 | Month: October-December | Volume: 11 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 1-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20260401
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in an Urban Slum of Jorhat District, Assam
Jurimoni Gogoi1, Airin Buragohain2, Deepika Phukan3, Tewe U Kapfo4, Parthajyoti Neog5
1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR), Kohima, Nagaland.
2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital (TMCH), Tinsukia.
3Statistician cum Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), Jorhat.
4Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR), Kohima, Nagaland.
5Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR), Kohima, Nagaland.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Jurimoni Gogoi
ABSTRACT
Background: Access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and appropriate hygiene practices is essential for preventing communicable diseases and promoting community health. Urban slum populations may experience substantial challenges in accessing and maintaining adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. This study assessed WASH practices among households residing in an urban slum of Jorhat District, Assam.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2022 in Pujadubi, an urban slum in Jorhat town, Assam. A total of 64 households were included. The first household was selected randomly, followed by consecutive household visits until the required sample size was reached. The head of each eligible household was interviewed using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Information was collected regarding drinking-water sources and treatment, sanitation facilities and practices, food hygiene, solid-waste disposal, and the biological environment of households. Data were compiled and analysed using Microsoft Excel and presented as frequencies and percentages.
Results: Public taps were the main source of drinking water for 50.0% of households, while 29.7% reported a continuous water supply. Overall, 67.1% of households reported using some form of drinking-water treatment, with candle filters being the most commonly reported method (62.8% among households using treatment). Flush or pour-flush toilets connected to septic tanks were used by 56.3% of households, while 76.6% reported sharing toilet facilities with other households. Regarding disposal of children's stools, 23.4% reported disposal with household garbage and 1.6% reported rinsing stools into drains or ditches. Indiscriminate solid-waste dumping was reported by 96.9% of households. Mosquito and fly breeding sites were reported in or around 85.9% and 89.1% of households, respectively.
Conclusion: The study identified important gaps in household WASH practices, particularly shared sanitation facilities, inadequate solid-waste disposal, and environmental conditions conducive to vector breeding. Strengthening access to safe water and sanitation services, improving solid-waste management, and promoting appropriate household WASH practices may help address these identified gaps in urban slum settings.
Keywords: Water; Sanitation; Hygiene; Urban Population; Slums; WASH; Assam.