Assessing the impact of water quality on gastrointestinal health: A cross-sectional, retrospective and statistical analysis in undergraduate students using GSRS and ANOVA

Abstract

Background: Access to potable and safe drinking water is a key determinant of human health. This investigation explores the association between water quality metrics and the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among undergraduate (UG) students in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. In light of growing concerns about water contamination and its potential effect on GI health. This study aims to access both water quality data and subjective heath reports using validated tools. Methods: In a cross-sectional retrospective study involving 60 undergraduate participants, the GSRS and WCHQ were utilized to investigate GI health and water consumption behaviours. Water samples from typical sources were analysed in accordance with WHO and IS10500:2012 standards. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were applied to assess the correlations between perceptions of water quality, usage, and the intensity of GI symptoms. Results: The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant difference (F = 32.54, p