This is an unmatched case-control study with quantitative and qualitative data designed to determine the factors associated with the utilization of purified water from water refilling stations among households in Zamboanga City. A total of 360 household representativesfrom four randomly selected barangays were included in the survey through multi-stage sampling. Of the 360 household representatives, 120 were the case respondents or those that utilized purified water and 240 were the control respondents or those that did not utilize purified water. Aninterviewer-assisted questionnairedrafted from related studies was utilizedduring data collection. Focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted to gather a qualitative support to the results. In the final multivariate logistic regression model, 5 factors associated with purified water utilization were found to be significant. Of the 5 factors, 4 are facilitative topurified water use in the household which includethose who have relatives that recommend use of purified water (OR=8.888, p-value=<0.001) as a social factor; dissatisfaction with tap water taste (OR= 8.413, p-value=<0.001) and odor (OR=3.760, p-value=0.001) and perception that purified water is safer than tap water (OR=20.289, p-value=<0.001) as psychological factors. Having lived in the area for more than 20 years (OR=0.484, p-value=0.027) showed to be the only significant factor that is inhibitive topurified water utilization. The FGD thematic findings which include perceived safety of tap and purified water, dissatisfaction with tap water taste, odor, and color, familiarity with tap water quality, affordability of purified water, and awareness of government regulation on water refilling stations appear to affirm the quantitative findings of this study. The quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that personal, social, and psychological factors reveal a strong association with the utilization of bottled water among households in Zamboanga City.

Keyword: Utilization of purified water