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International Research Journal of Medical Sciences and Health Care

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A Comprehensive Field Assessment Model of Sanitation Behavior, Water Treatment Practices, and Community-Level Water Quality Management in Rural Areas of Accra, Ghana

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Dr. Hossein Gholami 1 , Dr. Zahra Salehi 1 ,
4 Department of Software Engineering Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
4 School of Data Science University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

 

Sanitation practices and water quality management in rural and peri-urban communities remain critical determinants of public health outcomes in developing countries. This study proposes a multilevel analytical framework to examine individual and community-level determinants influencing sanitation behavior, drinking water quality, and resource management in rural communities surrounding Accra, Ghana. Drawing upon empirical field-based evidence and secondary synthesis of relevant literature, the framework integrates socioeconomic, infrastructural, behavioral, and hydrochemical dimensions to explain disparities in sanitation access and water safety. Prior studies highlight that household characteristics, including income, education, and housing type, significantly influence sanitation facility choice and hygiene practices (Adzawla et al., 2020). Similarly, infrastructural limitations and groundwater quality variations in the Accra plains further exacerbate disparities in water safety (Kortatsi, 2006). Evidence from Ghana indicates persistent inequalities in access to improved water and sanitation services, despite national and international interventions (WHO & UNICEF, 2019). According to Ghana. Safe Water Network (2021), rural water supply systems continue to face operational, financial, and quality management challenges, particularly in underserved districts.

This study adopts a multilevel conceptualization to bridge individual behavioral determinants with community infrastructure constraints. The proposed analytical model synthesizes environmental health perspectives with socioecological theory to assess sanitation outcomes holistically. Findings suggest that sanitation behavior is not solely determined by awareness but is deeply embedded in structural inequalities and resource accessibility. The framework provides actionable insights for policymakers and development agencies seeking to improve water quality governance and sanitation infrastructure in rural Ghana.

Keywords

Sanitation, Water Quality, Multilevel Framework, Rural Health

References

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