A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Sari Citizens Regarding Proper Water Consumption

Background and purpose: Rapid population growth and uneven development in Iran have resulted in a critical water scarcity crisis, with domestic water consumption significantly exceeding global averages. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of citizens in Sari regarding appropriate water consumption. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Sari in 2023. A sample of 450 individuals was selected from the target population using a simple stratified sampling method. Data were collected using a revised version of the Amiri Baghbadrani Questionnaire (2022), which was tailored to align with the study's objectives and the characteristics of the participants. The questionnaire assessed knowledge (score range: 0-12), attitudes (score range: 9-45), and practices (score range: 10-50) related to water consumption. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, employing the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Of the 300 distributed questionnaires, the average scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice of Sari citizens regarding proper water consumption were 5.14±1.92 (moderate), 36.36±4.25 (good), and 49.42±5.05 (good), respectively. Additionally, the knowledge domain demonstrated a significant relationship with occupation, gender, and place of residence; the attitude domain exhibited a significant relationship with age and education; and the practice domain revealed a significant relationship with gender, occupation, and education (P<0.05). Conclusion: The findings revealed that the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding water-saving behaviors among citizens in Sari were moderate, good, and good, respectively. These results underscore the importance of education and the cultivation of a culture of water conservation to transform knowledge and positive attitudes into action.