Professor Sera Young creates the Individual Water Insecurity Experience Scale (IWISE) to measure how water insecurity impacts people globally

As the world comes together to combat climate change, information about global access to water has become increasingly important.

Professor Sera Young, of the Department of Anthropology, created a 12-item Individual Water Insecurity Experience Scale (IWISE) that measures how water insecurity impacts people around the world.

Young tested the utility of the scale by using nationally representative data from 43,970 individuals in different 31 low- and middle-income countries. Participants were asked questions such as how often they worried about having enough water, if they were unable to wash their hands because of problems with water, and how often they went to bed thirsty.

“The breadth [of the data] is one of the things that’s really special,” Young said. “And that we have identified a scale that works across incredibly diverse settings opens up a world of possibilities for policy and practice.”

Young found the IWISE scale is reliable, meaning that the items in the scale work together consistently. It performs equivalently across countries, so water insecurity experiences can be compared from one country to another. The scale is also valid, which means it accurately reflects how the experiences of individuals’ water insecurity differ across countries and among individuals within countries.

These results make this the first tool that successfully compares individuals’ experiences with water access, use, and reliability across diverse climates, geographies, and cultures. Now, practitioners and policymakers will be able to better tailor interventions for at-risk populations. The IWISE will also provide insights into the progress made towards global development goals.

Young and her colleagues are currently fundraising to implement the IWISE Scale in 2022 in 140 countries.

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” Young said. “The world is finally realizing that water doesn’t grow on proverbial trees—and now we can measure this precious resource with much higher resolution.”

Learn more about this study:

IPR anthropologist’s scale provides snapshot of people’s experiences during global water crisis

Anthropologist’s scale provides a snapshot of people’s experiences during global water crisis