J Water SRT - Aqua 54 (2005) 261-263
The back happy tap-stand
Damian Hoy, Chris Morgan, Michael Toole and Harry Beyer
Centre for International Health, The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research & Public Health, GPO Box 2284, Melbourne 3001, Australia, Tel: +613 9282 2238, Fax: +613 9282 2144, dhoy@burnet.edu.au
Centre for International Health, The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research & Public Health, GPO Box 2284, Melbourne 3001, Australia, Tel: +613 9282 2238, Fax: +613 9282 2144, dhoy@burnet.edu.au
Centre for International Health, The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research & Public Health, GPO Box 2284, Melbourne 3001, Australia, Tel: +613 9282 2238, Fax: +613 9282 2144, dhoy@burnet.edu.au
Water Supply Engineer, PO Box 2078, Geelong, 3220, Australia
ABSTRACT
Low back pain is a significant problem in low-income countries. In a prevalence study in 19 villages in rural Tibet (China), 34.1% of people complained of low back pain at the time of the interview. The collection of water, an activity primarily conducted by women, was found to be one of the major risk factors. In response to the study, training in prevention and management of low back pain was conducted and a back happy tap-stand was designed and installed in more than 30 villages. The tap-stand has a high tap and waist-high bench, thereby reducing the need to bend the lower back when filling and lifting water containers. Many women rated the tap-stand as the most significant improvement to their lives in the previous three years. The back happy tap-stand eases women's burden when collecting water and has the potential to reduce the prevalence and associated disability of low back pain.
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