Influences on water source selection and use among women in rural Odisha, India

Introduction Water is a crucial resource for many household functions, including drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing clothes. Globally, women bear the burden of water collection in households without piped water, as well responsibility chores that require water. Carrying has number health safety risks, often rely on multiple sources. The goal this study to understand how rural Odisha, India, an area with high coverage improved sources, make decisions where collect Methods This grounded-theory, secondary analysis qualitative data collected from 69 across life stages eight villages Odisha. Women were asked about their concerns difficulties related probed details variety contexts, at night, during monsoon season, pregnancy. Results Women's standards quality vary depending planned use They report willingness travel long distances better tasting cooking drinking. When clothes, they prefer larger body Bathing or menstrual cloths requires privacy. Their ability access varies based individual characteristics such as: stage, recently married have less freedom movement than older women; status, carrying distances; cyclical patterns seasonality, certain sources are inaccessible season; source itself, which encompasses distance, perceived quality, privacy, among others. Discussion These findings indicate public interventions surveys monitor should not only consider presence premises, but also include consideration members time collection, may be equally available acceptable all times. In climate-sensitive areas, become increasingly necessary response changes environment, considered climate resilience interventions.