Introduction

In Study Session 8 you learned about ways in which pollution of the air, water and food can affect the environment and human health. In this study session we focus on the human values and behaviour that either protect our health and the environment from contamination by human and animal waste, or result in exposure to sources of pollution. We describe how behaviour is influenced by knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and traditions concerning the causes of disease and responsibility towards the environment, and also by household economic factors and gender issues. These aspects of the social environment must be considered in your own community if you are to be successful in preventing and controlling infectious diseases and environmental pollution by encouraging everyone to use good WASH practices consistently and to value them as normal practices.