Water and Handwashing in a Drought-Prone Region of Southern Niger: How Environment, Household Infrastructure, and Exposure to Social and Behavior Change Messages Interact

Abstract

This study aims to inform multisectoral development programs by exploring the extent to which social and behavior change (SBC) messages, environment, and household infrastructure are associated with knowledge and practice of handwashing behaviors. A cross-sectional survey of 2,708 households in the Maradi and Zinder districts of Niger was collected in April 2021. Household data were integrated with two local environmental measures: 1) water level at the nearest waterhole point, and 2) anomalous rainfall for the previous rainy season derived from climate hazards infrared precipitation with station rainfall (CHIRPS) data. Logistic regression models were constructed to explore how environment, household infrastructure, and exposure to SBC messages were associated with two hygiene-related outcomes: 1) observed water and soap available at household handwashing stations, a behavior, and 2) knowledge of critical moments for handwashing, a behavioral determinant. We find that in households near a water point with higher water depth, households were statistically significantly more likely (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25); (confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.49) to have water and soap observed at the handwashing station. Women in households near a water point with increased water depth (more water) were more likely to know three or more critical handwashing moments (OR = 1.07; CI = 1.03–1.11). Exposure to messages about the importance of handwashing was significantly associated with knowledge of critical handwashing moments and having water and soap observed at a handwashing station. Multisectoral programming should consider layering efforts so that development projects that increase access to water sources are complemented with SBC approaches focused on hygiene.

Application of the integrated gateway model on child nutrition behaviors in Niger: An exploratory analysis

“…However, given that the program had been ongoing since 2018, we hypothesize that respondents had been continuously exposed over the course of the program and the three-month recall serves as a proxy for longer term exposure to health information. Finally, contextual factors outside of those measured including drought and food security challenges while not measured may also be influencing the health and nutrition outcomes [ 39 ].…”

The Effect Of Health Education Using Comic Media On Knowledge And Attitude Towards Personal Hygiene Among Adolescent Girls In Dayah Insan Qur’ani, Sukamakmur District, Aceh Besar Regency

“…Data shows that in 2021, around 2 billion people in the world lacked access to safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion people did not have access to adequate sanitation, while 673 million people still practiced open defecation [1], [2], [3], [4]. Inequalities in access are also evident, with people from low-income backgrounds being 2.5 times more likely to lack access to clean water and sanitation compared to those from high-income backgrounds, and only 72% of girls from the poorest families in developing countries having access to handwashing facilities [4], [5], [6], [7]. Lack of education and awareness also contribute to the problem, with only 3 out of 10 countries in the world having a national policy on personal hygiene education in schools, and only around 19% of people in some developing countries washing their hands with soap after defecation ( [3], [8], [9]).…”