A Case Study in Mahaiyawa Slums, Kandy C. Semasinghe, J.A.S. De Silva and H.K. Sunil Shanthasri

1. KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND
PRACTICES OF URBAN POOR
WOMEN ON WATER AND
SANITATION
A CASE STUDY IN MAHAIYAWA SLUMS,
KANDY
C. Semasinghe, J.A.S. De Silva and H.K. Sunil Shanthasri

2. • Women play a central role in households
in regard to water and sanitation
• They also pay the heaviest price for poor
sanitation
• This research was conducted to
determine the level of knowledge,
attitudes and practices on water and
sanitation of women in urban slums in
Sri Lanka

3. Study Area
• GN division is Poornawaththa West 240
• Total number of 1390 households and a
population of 5982
• Number of women is 2978 (49.78% of
the total population)
• The total area is about 10acres (0.04 Km2)

4. The location….

5. Methodology
• 30 women from this area were selected to be
questioned for primary data collection.
• They were between the ages of 30 to 40.
• Motherhood was an essential requirement.
• Key Informant Interviews (KII) were conducted
with KMC, NWSDB authorities and GN of the
area

6. Findings…
• Most dwellers are labourers or minor workers of the
KMC
• Multi ethnic and multi religious.
• Some of them were given ownership of land.Others are
“unauthorized settlers”.
• Mahaiyawa has a municipality water supply scheme.
• Some households have water supply to their own house
while others use the public water taps.
• A public water tap is averagely shared by 8-10 families
• water is free and there is a 24 hour supply
• Most women are unemployed, majority of employed
work for KMC

7. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
• Do you boil water for drinking?
Regularly Occasionally Never
30% 43.4% 26.7%
• Aware that boiling is a method of disinfection.
• Children dislike the taste of boiled water.
• Limitations in time.
• Additional cost.

8. • Washing hands is extremely low, especially for
those who do not have a water supply at
home and have to use the public water
connection.
• 46.7% of the women in the area depend on
public water for bathing and washing clothes.
• An attitude of water comes at no cost. Hence
a lot of water is wasted.

9. • The KMC has provided public latrine facilities.
• Many homes lack space to build a private
latrine.
• A line of latrines consists of 4-5 units of
latrines. Placed at 9 different places in the
area. A total of 92 units of pour flush latrines.

10. • KMC is responsible for maintaining and cleaning
these latrines, 3 janitorial workers are assigned to
clean them each morning.
• Every Monday and Friday they clean the pits. During
festivals the pits are cleaned daily.
• Families contribute Rs.30.00 every 3 months to buy
necessary detergents and antiseptics. Residents
Conduct shramadhana campaigns to clean the
latrines.
• Average of 20 people per latrine.
• Open defecation is a common practice among
children and also women at night.

11. • 33.3% of the women of the urban slums found
their efforts to clean the latrines are in vain
• Waste water disposal to network of drains
• Illegal construction of houses obstructing
drain
• KMC collects solid waste in the morning,
dumped in Gohagoda.
• Yet it was observed that there are always
domes of solid waste in the drains in the area.

12. Conclusion
• Population growth in the area is causing land
fragmentation, high housing density and lack of
sanitation facilities increases the intensity of the
issue.
• Majority of women have obtained primary education
and have the basic knowledge on sanitation but their
attitudes and practices differ.

13. • Health education to bring about an attitude
change is important
• Women could be motivated and empowered
to raise a voice
• Regulations to minimize water wastage

14. Thank You