Project description

In the town of Bebnine (population approximately 16,000) in northern Lebanon, a team of researchers from the American University of Beirut and local residents worked together on a community-based research project that used an ecosystem approach to better understand the links between people, water, and health (Forget and Lebel 2001; Lebel 2003). Initially, the study focused on the impact of polluted irrigation water and the use of agrochemicals on the quality of local produce. However, preliminary meetings with key community stakeholders unearthed community concerns about the apparently high rate of occurrence of ­gastrointestinal diseases among Bebnine residents. This more urgent issue led to a shift in project scope to align better with community priorities and address the relationship between drinking water quality and community health and well-being. The results of the work guided the development and setup of community-based short- and medium-term interventions to alleviate the effects of water-related health problems.

Researchers

Keywords

Public Policy Public health