Double-blinded Trial of Household-based Chlorination in India

Household-based Chlorination of Drinking Water to Prevent Diarrhoeal Disease: a Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial in India Using Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) Tablets

Population Services International, Partners for Affordable Technologies in Health, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Chemical Council of America, Medentech, Indian Institute of Health Management Research

The proposed study is a 12-month double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine if the impact of treating water with chlorine at the household level is effective in preventing diarrhea among young children. For more than a century, chlorine has be used to treat water in municipal systems in developed countries. Lack of infrastructure has prevented its use in lower-income settings. NaDCC is a tablet form of chlorine that has been used for more than 30 years in emergencies and has recently been approved for routine treatment of drinking water by the WHO and US Environmental Protection Agency. The placebo will consist of the food-grade ingredients in the effective tablet, without the chlorine. Study participants will be supplied with tablets (intervention or placebo) and instructed to use the same to treat their water daily. Monthly follow-up visits will assess diarrhoea morbidity and weight-for-age Z scores in <5s. Chlorine residual and bacteriological quality of water stored in the home will be measured each month. The study will also assess the impact of the intervention on absenteeism from school and work and on health care expenditure for diarrhoea.

Study participants will be supplied with tablets and encouraged to use them for treating their water daily

Study participants will be supplied with tablets and encouraged to use them for treating their water daily

Approximately 2000 households with children <5 will be enrolled. Inclusion Criteria: Households with at least one child< 5 Male and female head of household consent to participate Reside permanently in study area

Boisson S, Stevenson M, Shapiro L, Kumar V, Singh LP, Ward D, Clasen T. Effect of household-based drinking water chlorination on diarrhoea among children under five in Orissa, India: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2013 Aug;10(8):e1001497. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001497. Epub 2013 Aug 20.