Background Water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remain a public health concern in Indonesia. Proper WASH practices can decrease risk of stunting, wasting, and disease in children under the age of 2. Objective The purpose of our study is to examine if using technology to access health information and services among Indonesian women affects knowledge and behaviors regarding handwashing and defecation practices. Methods Our study is an interview-based cross-sectional survey. Participants included 1734 mothers of children under 2 years of age. These women were randomly selected and interviewed as part of a 3-stage cluster sampling technique. Our study uses data regarding WASH knowledge which includes benefits of handwashing with soap, 5 critical times of handwashing, risks of open defecation, media of disease transmission, defecation locations, and risks of open defecation. Data regarding WASH behaviors were also included: handwashing with soap, type of latrine used at home, and where defecation took place. This investigation used adjusted and unadjusted logistic and linear regression models to determine differences in WASH outcomes between those who use technology to access health information and services and those who did not. Results One result is that Indonesian women with children under 2 years of age who use technology to access health information and services are more likely to know the advantages of proper handwashing (odds ratio [OR] 2.603, 95% CI 1.666-4.067) and know the 5 critical times of handwashing (OR 1.217, 95% CI 0.969-1.528). Women who use technology to access health information are also more likely to know the risks of open defecation (OR 1.627, 95% CI 1.170-2.264) and use a type of toilet (such as a gooseneck or squat toilet) that limits risk (OR 3.858, 95% CI 2.628-5.665) compared to women who did not use technology to access health information. Conclusions Using technology to access health information and services was associated with an increase in handwashing and defecation knowledge. In the future, promoting mothers of children under 2 years of age to access health information through technology might be used to increase handwashing and defecation knowledge as well as safe defecation practices. However, further research should be done to determine how technology may increase the frequency of recommended handwashing behaviors.
This study examined the relationship between men’s involvement and primary caregivers’ antenatal visits, acquiring antenatal tablets, and working less during pregnancy. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 5,000 Tanzanian primary caregivers living in households with one or more children under the age of 2 years. Results indicated that primary caregivers who received help from their husband/partner, or perceived that men in their community helped their pregnant spouses, were more likely to practice healthy antenatal care behaviors, including attending antenatal visits, acquiring antenatal tablets, and working less during pregnancy. Similarly, women who thought that all their friends receive help from their husbands/partners were twice as likely to reduce their workload during their pregnancy. These findings suggest the importance of male involvement and support during pregnancy in order to improve antenatal care, reduce workload, and increase tablet consumption among primary caregivers.
BACKGROUND Water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remain a public health concern in Indonesia. Proper WASH practices can decrease risk of stunting, wasting, and disease in children under the age of two. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to examine if using technology to access health information and services among Indonesian women affects knowledge and behaviors regarding handwashing and defecation practices. METHODS Participants included 1734 mothers of children under two years old. These women were randomly selected and interviewed as part of a three-stage cluster sampling technique. This study uses the data regarding WASH knowledge which includes: benefits of handwashing with soap, five critical times of handwashing, risks of open defecation, media of disease transmission, defecation locations, and risks of open defecation. Data regarding WASH behaviors was also included: handwashing with soap, type of latrine used at home, and where defecation took place. This investigation used adjusted and unadjusted logistic and linear regression models to determine differences in WASH outcomes between those who use technology to access health information and services and those who did not. RESULTS One result is that Indonesian women with children under two who use technology to access health information and services are more likely to know the advantages of proper handwashing (OR=2.603; CI=1.666-4.067) and know the five critical times of handwashing (OR=1.217; CI=.969-1.528). Women who use technology to access health information are also more likely to know the risks of open defecation (OR=1.627; CI=1.170-2.264) and use a type of toilet (such as a gooseneck or squat toilet) that limits risk compared to women who did not use technology to access health information (OR=3.858; CI= 2.628-5.665). CONCLUSIONS Using technology to access health information and services was associated with an increase in handwashing and defecation knowledge. In the future, promoting mothers of children under two to access to health information through technology might be used to increase handwashing and defecation knowledge as well as safe defecation practices. However, further research should be done to determine how technology may increase the frequency of recommended handwashing behaviors.
Background Despite attention, childhood stunting in Indonesia persists. Proper WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practices help lower childhood stunting. As internet access in Indonesia grows, seeking health information online is increasing. However, research on using technology to increase WASH knowledge and behaviors in Indonesia is limited. The purpose of this study is to assess whether Indonesian women using technology to access health information have higher WASH knowledge and behaviors. Methods 1,740 mothers with children under the age of two were randomly selected with three-stage cluster sampling. They were surveyed and interviewed about handwashing and sanitary defecation benefits, steps, and practices. Adjusted and unadjusted logistic and linear regression models were used to compare WASH outcomes between those who used technology to access health information and the control group. The models controlled for mother's age, mother's education, and total household income. Results Participants who used technology to access health information were more likely to know the benefits (OR = 2.603; CI = 1.666-4.067) and five critical times (OR = 1.217; CI=.969-1.528) of proper handwashing. Mothers were more likely to know the risks of open defecation (OR = 1.627; CI = 1.170-2.264) and understand disease transmission from stool (OR = 1.894; CI = 1.438-2.495). Those using technology to access health information were more likely to report using a gooseneck, squat toilet, septic tank, or closed ground to discard feces than the control group (OR = 3.858; CI = 2.628-5.665). Conclusions Using technology to access health information was associated with increased handwashing and defecation knowledge and safe elimination of feces. It was not associated with an increase in handwashing with soap. Technology can be used to increase WASH knowledge and behavior, but further research is needed to effectively use technology to increase optimal handwashing behaviors. Key messages Increasing technology access may encourage good water, sanitation and hygiene behavior change. Using technology to access health information yielded safer defecation practices but not better handwashing practices. Further research is needed.
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