Figure 1
Total number of cisterns built since 2003 in Brazil.
Source: Brazil, 2023 [12].
Table 1
Summary of articles describing cisterns’ impact on health outcomes in the Brazilian semi‑arid region.
| REFERENCE AND LOCATION | DATA AND METHODS | HEALTH OUTCOME | MAIN CONTRIBUTION | MAIN RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna et al. [25]. 21 municipalities of Pernambuco state | Data was gathered from over 60 days and included 1,765 individuals Longitudinal prospective study, nested in a cross‑sectional study comparing two groups (households with and without water tanks) | Occurrence of diarrheal episodes | The findings of this study point to the importance of access to drinking water for the reduction of disease | Among the 949 individuals with water tanks, there was a reduction in the risk of the occurrence of episodes of diarrhea by 73% compared with the 816 individuals without water tanks (RR = 0.27; p < 0.001) |
| Marcynuk et al. [26]. Agreste Central Region of Pernambuco state | Logistic regression using a face‑to‑face survey with 3,679 people from 774 households. | Determine the 30‑day prevalence of diarrhea | This indicates that using cisterns for drinking water is associated with a decreased occurrence of diarrhea in this study population. Further research should be conducted to account for additional risk factors and preventative factors | People from households with a cistern had a significantly lower 30‑day period prevalence of diarrhea (prevalence = 11.0%; 95% CI 9.5–12.4) than people from households without a cistern (prevalence = 18.2%; 95% CI 16.4–20.0) |
| Silva, Heller and Carneiro* [30]. Two municipalities in the Médio Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais: Berilo and Chapada do Norte | Quasi‑experimental, using survey‑based analysis with 664 children under five years old | Occurrence of diarrhea in the last 72 h | The authors highlight the need to improve the sanitary practices of the rural population so that personal and household hygiene and hygiene concerning consumed water are incorporated into routine habits | The total prevalence of diarrhea was 5% but no significant difference between the groups |
| Fonseca et al. [27]. Berilo and Chapada do Norte (Minas Gerais state) | Quasi‑experimental study cohort with 664 children | The prevalence of G. duodenalis in children under 5 years | The study suggests the necessity of complementing physical interventions with personal and domestic hygiene actions to further reduce parasite infections, which mainly affect underprivileged populations | They showed a higher risk of G. duodenalis infection in children who did not have access to rainwater cisterns when compared to children who did (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.14–2.59) |
| Da Mata et al. [28]. All semi‑arid regions | Administrative data from P1MC, CadÚnico, and SINASC. Fixed effects panel regression models | Birth weight | The paper studies how in utero exposure to a large‑scale climate adaptation program affects birth outcomes | Access to cisterns during early pregnancy increased birth weight, particularly for more educated mothers. We show that each additional week of in utero exposure to cisterns is associated with a positive effect on an average birth weight of about 1.7 g. |
| Passador and Passador [14]. Municipality of Juazeiro, Bahia | 34 interviews with benefited families | Beneficiaries’ perception of improved health | Families reported that water‑related illnesses, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps, were quite common in families when they consumed poor‑quality water of dubious origin. However, since using water collected in the cistern, such diseases occur very sporadically | Using cisterns positively influences the quality of life of these families in terms of health, free time, income, and gender issues |
| Gomes and Heller [13]. 63 municipalities of Minas Gerais | Survey‑based analysis with 623 beneficiaries | Beneficiaries’ perception of improved health | Emphasize that public water supply policies in semi‑arid rural areas must associate technical issues with management elements that consider local social, climatic, and economic specificities | Improvements in the perception of the health of the benefited families and a reduction in the time spent searching for drinking water, but the challenges remain significant in precariousness and socioeconomic conditions and those related to an adequate supply of water in quantity and quality |
| Fagundes et al.* [29]. Alagoas state | Survey‑based analysis with 29 families | Food and nutritional security | This study highlights the importance of water access programs for food production within public policies to guarantee FNS | Food Insecurity Scale showed that food insecurity occurs in 75% of these families However, focus groups showed that families positively perceive Boardwalk Cisterns for their food security. They believe that agricultural production has improved, offering a wider range of foods and improving food security |
[i] Source: Authors’ own. *Not focused on the P1MC.
Figure 2
The conceptual analysis of the P1MC based on the DPSEEA framework.
Source: Authors’ own elaboration.
Table 2
Qualitative indicators supporting action on P1MC.
[i] Source: Authors’ own.