Factors influencing knowledge and practice of hygiene in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme areas of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee

Abstract

Introduction: Improved hygiene is one of the most effective means of reducing disease occurrence. However, a complete understanding of the factors that contribute to such improvement are not clear. This study explored factors that facilitate and/or impede hygiene behavior in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) intervention areas using qualitative research techniques. Methods: The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) has been providing WASH intervention to 150 rural upazilas (sub-districts) since 2006. For qualitative data collection, in-depth interviews were conducted with 144 purposively selected women from six upazilas across Bangladesh. A woman in the household was considered as a case and interviewed regarding various aspects of sanitation and hygiene, using a checklist. Some practices, such as cleanliness of latrines, and availability of soap, water, slippers in their designated place were physically verified. Results: The respondents' hygiene behavior was mainly facilitated by improved knowledge and awareness of health and environment-related issues. Latrine ownership increased through financial assistance, resulting in improved privacy, social prestige, and a heightened sense of responsibility towards maintaining a healthy life. However, lack of interest in attending cluster meetings, traditional knowledge, poverty, and lack of will were some of the factors impeding knowledge and hygiene practice. In addition, attitude played a definitive role, with some respondents not practicing hygiene in spite of having the financial ability to do so. They expected full financial support for creating sanitation and hygiene facilities in their household despite BRAC's policy of providing such support only to the 'ultra-poor'. Conclusions: The identified impeding factors often act as barriers to transformation of hygiene-related knowledge into practice and practice into habit. More motivational cluster meetings with large-scale participation and periodic home visits by the programme organizers are imperative as they markedly improve hygiene behavior.

Hubungan Pengetahuan Keamanan Pangan dengan Higiene Penjual dan Kontaminasi Salmonella spp Pada Lalapan Mentah di Kecamatan Patrang

“…Terdapat beberapa persyaratan yang harus dipenuhi oleh penjual makanan ketika mengolah pangan seperti penjual tidak menderita penyakit infeksi menular, menutup luka terbuka, selalu menjaga kebersihan tangan dan anggota tubuh lainnya, memakai alat pelindung diri (celemek, masker, sarung tangan), tidak merokok di area memasak, dan tidak batuk atau bersin di hadapan makanan yang disajikan 10 . Perilaku seseorang dalam mempraktikkan higiene personal dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor, salah satunya adalah tingkat pengetahuan mengenai keamanan pangan 11 .…”

“…Faktor reinforcing adalah sikap dan perilaku petugas yang bertanggung jawab untuk mengubah perilaku masyarakat sasaran 32 . Perilaku seseorang dalam mempraktikkan higiene personal dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor seperti tingkat pengetahuan, sosio ekonomi, budaya, kebiasaan seseorang, dan kondisi fisik 11 .…”

Handwashing Practices and Its Predictors Among Primary School Children in Damote Woide District, South Ethiopia: An Institution Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…16 School-based handwashing practices have been done in different countries. Some of these studies are in Colombia, where 36.6% of school children reported washing their hands always with soap and very often after using the toilet, however, only 3% always wash their hands for at least 20 seconds 17 ; similarly, in Bogota, only 33.6% always or very often wash their hands with soap and clean water before eating and after using the toilet, while about 7% of students reported regular access to soap and clean water at school 18 ; in Bangladesh, washing hands specifically using soap after defecation was found to be a common practice 19 ; in Vietnam, the common time for handwashing was before eating (60%), but only 23% after defecation and very few did before cooking (only 7%), washed their hands at the recommended duration (30-60 seconds) was 58%, the proportion of handwashing practice was increased by grade levels (34% among grade 1 to 67% among grade 7 students 20 ; in South Africa, washing of hands in schools was above 65% (70.3% in urban and 29.7% in rural schools, they did mostly before eating and after visiting the toilet. 21 …”

Determinants of handwashing practice and its associated factors among mothers of under-5 children in Kolladiba town, Northwest Ethiopia: cross-sectional study

“…Thus, a home visit was found to have paramount importance in enhancing good handwashing practices. 15 …”