Factors Affecting the Diffusion of Solar Water Disinfection: A Field Study in Bolivia

Abstract

This study examines a broad array of theory-based factors derived from diffusion research that affect the current and intended use of solar water disinfection (SODIS), a simple, low-cost technology for treating drinking water at the household level. The perceived attributes of an innovation, the nature of the social system in which it is diffused, the extent of change agents' promotional efforts in diffusing it, and the nature of the communication channels used were operationalized by 16 variables. The aim of the study is to determine the influence of each factor and its predictive power. Eight areas in Bolivia were visited, and 644 families were interviewed on the basis of a structured questionnaire. Simultaneous multiple regression analysis showed that 9 of the 16 factors derived from diffusion research contributed significantly to predicting the current use of SODIS. The implications of the findings for customizing future SODIS diffusion activities are outlined.

Personal, social, and situational factors influencing the consumption of drinking water from arsenic-safe deep tubewells in Bangladesh

“…Psychological research indicates that the use of a new drinking water technology always faces several barriers in everyday life (Altherr et al, 2008;Heri and Mosler, 2008;Moser and Mosler, 2008). These barriers can be grouped into three categories: personal, social, and situational behavior determinants.…”

Developing and testing theory-based and evidence-based interventions to promote switching to arsenic-safe wells in Bangladesh

“…For solar water disinfection (SODIS), refer to the studies by Heri and Mosler (2008) in Bolivia and Kraemer and Mosler (2010) in Zimbabwe; for hygiene behaviour, see Graf et al (2008) in Kenya; for consuming fluoridefree water from household or community filters, see and ; and for using arsenic-safe water options, refer to the studies by Inauen et al (2013) and Mosler et al (2010), both in Bangladesh.…”

Which psychological factors change when habitual water treatment practices alter?

“…Altherr et al (2008) successfully explain the consumption of solar disinfected drinking water in Nicaragua based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen 1991). Meanwhile, Heri and Mosler (2008) show that attitudinal components such as costs and taste, as well as the injunctive norm, have significant influences on the water consumption of solar disinfected drinking in Bolivia. The result on the injunctive norm was corroborated by a study by Graf et al (2008) on two behaviors, as well as on solar water disinfection and for hygiene behavior in the Kibera slum in Nairobi (Kenya) and by the study of Kraemer and Mosler (2010) on the intention to use solar water disinfection in the slums of Harare (Zimbabwe).…”

“…The assessment of factors based on psychological theories of human behavior have provided essential inputs for the accurate design of promotion campaigns (e.g. Altherr et al 2008;Heri and Mosler 2008;Moser and Mosler 2008). However, to our knowledge, there has been no research lasting longer than 1 year on changing inner psychological factors and the long-term adoption of HWTS.…”