Sensor recorded changes in rates of hand washing with soap in response to the media reports of the H1N1 pandemic in Britain

Abstractobjective To estimate the global prevalence of handwashing with soap and derive a pooled estimate of the effect of hygiene on diarrhoeal diseases, based on a systematic search of the literature.methods Studies with data on observed rates of handwashing with soap published between 1990 and August 2013 were identified from a systematic search of PubMed, Embase and ISI Web of Knowledge. A separate search was conducted for studies on the effect of hygiene on diarrhoeal disease that included randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised trials with control group, observational studies using matching techniques and observational studies with a control group where the intervention was well defined. The search used Cochrane Library, Global Health, BIOSIS, PubMed, and Embase databases supplemented with reference lists from previously published systematic reviews to identify studies published between 1970 and August 2013. Results were combined using multilevel modelling for handwashing prevalence and meta-regression for risk estimates.results From the 42 studies reporting handwashing prevalence we estimate that approximately 19% of the world population washes hands with soap after contact with excreta (i.e. use of a sanitation facility or contact with children's excreta). Meta-regression of risk estimates suggests that handwashing reduces the risk of diarrhoeal disease by 40% (risk ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.53-0.68); however, when we included an adjustment for unblinded studies, the effect estimate was reduced to 23% (risk ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.32-1.86).conclusions Our results show that handwashing after contact with excreta is poorly practiced globally, despite the likely positive health benefits.

show abstract

“…Newly emerging sensor technologies are likely to provide more accurate measures (Fleischman et al . ; Ford et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic review: Hygiene and health: systematic review of handwashing practices worldwide and update of health effects

Freeman

Stocks

Cumming

et al. 2014

Tropical Med Int Health

399

372

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Interventions developed through theorydriven approaches have been able to demonstrate substantial shifts in observed hygiene behaviour in non-outbreak settings [23][24][25][26][27], but we know little about whether theorydriven approaches are feasible or effective in emergency settings, or how similar or different the determinants of behaviour change are. For example, communicating health risks during infectious disease outbreaks may be more effective than in non-outbreak settings [28,29], but may only have short term effects [30]. Using motives like disgust, shame or nurture (the desire to do what is best for your child) might be just as relevant in emergencies, but there may also be additional ethical considerations of using such motivators with vulnerable communities [31,32].…”

Section: Changing Hygiene Behavioursmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hygiene programming during outbreaks: a qualitative case study of the humanitarian response during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia

Czerniewska

White

2020

BMC Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Hygiene promotion is a cornerstone of humanitarian response during infectious disease outbreaks. Despite this, we know little about how humanitarian organisations design, deliver or monitor hygiene programmes, or about what works to change hygiene behaviours in outbreak settings. This study describes humanitarian perspectives on changing behaviours in crises, through a case study of hygiene promotion during the 2014-2016 Liberian Ebola outbreak. Our aim was to aid better understanding of decision making in high-stress situations where there is little precedent or evidence, and to prompt reflection within the sector around how to improve and support this. Methods: We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with fourteen purposively-sampled individuals (key informants) from international organisations involved in hygiene behaviour change during the outbreak. Through thematic analysis we identified the decisions that were made and processes that were followed to design, deliver and monitor interventions. We compared our findings with theory-driven processes used to design behaviour change interventions in non-outbreak situations. Results: Humanitarians predominantly focussed on providing hygiene products (e.g. buckets, soap, gloves) and delivering messages through posters, radio and community meetings. They faced challenges in defining which hygiene behaviours to promote. Assessments focused on understanding infrastructural needs, but omitted systematic assessments of hygiene behaviours or their determinants. Humanitarians assumed that fear and disease awareness would be the most powerful motivators for behaviour change. They thought that behaviour change techniques used in non-emergency settings were too 'experimental', and were beyond the skillset of most humanitarian actors. Monitoring focussed on inputs and outputs rather than behavioural impact. Conclusions: The experiences of humanitarians allowed us to identify areas that could be strengthened when designing hygiene programmes in future outbreaks. Specifically, we identified a need for rapid research methods to explore behavioural determinants; increased skills training for frontline staff, and increased operational research to explore behaviour change strategies that are suited to outbreak situations.

show abstract

“…Another study used sensors in public toilets to measure hand washing behaviors and found that hand washing rates inclined at times when the volume of H1N1 media reporting was highest (Fleischman et al. ). It follows then that the cultivation of fear in populations is required to mobilize them and that news media can be the way to produce such a response.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We Became Sceptics”: Fear and Media Hype in General Public Narrative on the Advent of Pandemic Influenza

Davis

Lohm

Flowers

et al. 2014

Sociological Inquiry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this article, we examine the apparent resistance of publics to messages regarding pandemic influenza. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic was addressed through media: governments used print, broadcast, and digital media to advise publics to enact hygiene practices and comply with social isolation; news media took up the pandemic as a lead story. Publics, however, rated the pandemic as not serious, even before it was widely known that it was mild for most. This problem is presently constructed as complacency: where individuals are seen to lack appropriate motivation to avoid risk. We combine perspectives on media reflexivity on the part of audiences with general public interviews and focus groups in Australia and the UK, to offer an alternative explanation for complacency. Publics endorse public health advice, but are skeptical of pandemic risk communication. They exhibit critical awareness of outbreak narrative and concomitant emotions, such as fear, which are coded into media stories. We, therefore, challenge the view that publics are complacent. Instead, governments must navigate an emerging terrain of ramified and critical media consumption to shape effective risk communication in time of global health emergency.

show abstract

Sensor recorded changes in rates of hand washing with soap in response to the media reports of the H1N1 pandemic in Britain

Cited by 27 publications

References 37 publications

Systematic review: Hygiene and health: systematic review of handwashing practices worldwide and update of health effects

Systematic review: Hygiene and health: systematic review of handwashing practices worldwide and update of health effects

Hygiene programming during outbreaks: a qualitative case study of the humanitarian response during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia

“We Became Sceptics”: Fear and Media Hype in General Public Narrative on the Advent of Pandemic Influenza

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About