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Impact of Arsenic Mitigation Program on Attitude of the Beneficiaries

Md. Safiul Islam Afrad
Dept. of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to assess the impact of arsenic mitigation program on the attitude of the beneficiaries towards arsenic and its related issues in Bhanga and Matlab Upazila under Faridpur and Chandpur districts, respectively. Quantitative data were collected using a pre-designed interview schedule while qualitative data were collected by using focus group discussion and direct observation methods during January to March 2009. Findings revealed that 55% of the patient respondents encountered medium to high changes in their attitude towards arsenic and the concerned issues. The differences of attitude of the patient and non-patient respondents between pre and post participation in arsenic mitigation programs were positively significant. It was also observed that education, farm size, organizational participation, contact with the sources of the information and annual family income had significant positive relationship with the change in attitude of the patient respondents. Again, education alone explained 69.4 percent of the total variations in attitude of the respondents, whereas contact with the sources of information explained 2.9 percent. It was recommended to arrange functional educational program focusing upon the rural poor to arsenic, sources of arsenic contamination, arsenicosis, arsenic removal measures and arsenic patient and appointment of efficient and enthusiastic health workers by the Public Health and Engineering Department for better result.

Keywords: Arsenic, Attitude, Beneficiaries

Location: Bhanga, Faridpur and Matlab, Chandpur

Start Date: 00-00-2009

End Date: 00-00-2009

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Arsenic

Objectives:

To find out the relationship between the selected characteristics of the respondents and the changes in their attitude level due to participation in arsenic mitigation programs.

Methodology:

Faridpur and Chandpur districts were identified as the plause of devastating occurrence of arsenic contamination in ground water. Therefore, Bhanga and Matlab upazilas Faridpur and Chandpur districts, respectively were selected as the locale of the present study. The arsenic patients of the arsenic mitigation programs (UNICEF/DPHE fifteen upazila arsenic mitigation program and Arsenic in tubewell water and health consequences program) of the selected areas were considered as the target population of the present study. Quantitative data were collected for the present study during January to March 2009 using a pre-designed interview schedule. Focus group discussion (FGD) and Direct observation were used to collect qualitative data for triangulation of results.The reverse procedure was followed in assigning weightage for a response of negative item statements. Respondents’ attitude about arsenic and related subject matter was measured both for before and after their participation in the mitigation programs. Thus, attitudinal score of a respondent could range from 10-50, where ‘10’ indicates very unfavorable attitude and ‘50’ indicates highly favorable attitude towards arsenic and related issues. The mean attitudinal value difference between before and after arsenic mitigation program was tested by administering t-test.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists 8(2): 35-42 (2010) ISSN-1729-5211, A Scientific Journal of Krishi Foundation

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/AGRIC/article/view/7575/5714

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Fifty five percent of the patient respondents encountered medium to high changes in their attitude regarding arsenic and the concerned issues. The attitudinal differences of the patient respondents between pre and post arsenic the mitigation programs situations were positively significant. Hence, it may be concluded that the arsenic mitigation programs have generated remarkable changes in attitude of the programs’ beneficiaries towards arsenic and related issues. Education alone explained 69.40 percent total variations while contact with the sources of information explained 2.90 percent in change of attitude of the respondents. It may, therefore, be concluded that education is the key factor in changing attitude of the beneficiaries. Hence, the concerned authority should initiate massive educational program focusing upon the rural poor to arsenic, sources of arsenic contamination, arsenicosis, arsenic removal measures and arsenic patient with immediate effect. Besides, more visual teaching methods and aids should be used during motivational campaign. Efficient and enthusiastic health worker may be employed by the Public Health and Engineering Department (DPHE) for better result.

Knowledge Management: Journal