Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure

BACKGROUND To explore how structural constraints such as lack of reliable water supply, sanitation, educational and other socio-economic factors limit the adoption of better hygiene. METHODS In preparation for the Kenya National Handwashing Campaign, we conducted a nationwide cross sectional survey...

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Main Authors:	Schmidt, W. P., Aunger, R., Coombes, Y., Maina, P. M., Matiko, C. N., Biran, A., Curtis, V.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	EN
Published:	2012
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/5339

id	okr-10986-5339
recordtype	oai_dc
spelling	okr-10986-53392021-04-23T14:02:21Z Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure Schmidt, W. P. Aunger, R. Coombes, Y. Maina, P. M. Matiko, C. N. Biran, A. Curtis, V. BACKGROUND To explore how structural constraints such as lack of reliable water supply, sanitation, educational and other socio-economic factors limit the adoption of better hygiene. METHODS In preparation for the Kenya National Handwashing Campaign, we conducted a nationwide cross sectional survey in 800 households with two components: (i) direct structured observation of hygiene practices at key junctures (food handling, cleaning a child after defaecation, toilet use), followed by (ii) a structured interview addressing potential socio-economic, water access and behavioural determinants of handwashing. RESULTS We observed a total of 5182 critical opportunities for handwashing, and handwashing with soap at 25% of these. Handwashing with soap was more often practised after faecal contact (32%) than in connection with food handling (15%). In univariate and multivariate analysis, water access, level of education, media exposure and media ownership were associated with handwashing with soap. Only households with very poor access to water and sanitation, and with the lowest levels of education and media exposure, washed their hands markedly less than the majority of the households. CONCLUSION The results underscore that structural constraints can limit hygiene practices in the very disadvantaged sections of a population, thus jeopardizing the potential success of hygiene promotion campaigns in those most at risk of disease. Nevertheless, the strong association of handwashing with media ownership and exposure supports the view that mass media can play a role in hygiene promotion. 2012-03-30T07:32:22Z 2012-03-30T07:32:22Z 2009 Journal Article Tropical Medicine & International Health 1360-2276 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/5339 EN http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo World Bank Journal Article Kenya
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Foreign Institution
institution	Digital Repositories
building	World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection	World Bank
language	EN
geographic_facet	Kenya
relation	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo
description	BACKGROUND To explore how structural constraints such as lack of reliable water supply, sanitation, educational and other socio-economic factors limit the adoption of better hygiene. METHODS In preparation for the Kenya National Handwashing Campaign, we conducted a nationwide cross sectional survey in 800 households with two components: (i) direct structured observation of hygiene practices at key junctures (food handling, cleaning a child after defaecation, toilet use), followed by (ii) a structured interview addressing potential socio-economic, water access and behavioural determinants of handwashing. RESULTS We observed a total of 5182 critical opportunities for handwashing, and handwashing with soap at 25% of these. Handwashing with soap was more often practised after faecal contact (32%) than in connection with food handling (15%). In univariate and multivariate analysis, water access, level of education, media exposure and media ownership were associated with handwashing with soap. Only households with very poor access to water and sanitation, and with the lowest levels of education and media exposure, washed their hands markedly less than the majority of the households. CONCLUSION The results underscore that structural constraints can limit hygiene practices in the very disadvantaged sections of a population, thus jeopardizing the potential success of hygiene promotion campaigns in those most at risk of disease. Nevertheless, the strong association of handwashing with media ownership and exposure supports the view that mass media can play a role in hygiene promotion.
format	Journal Article
author	Schmidt, W. P. Aunger, R. Coombes, Y. Maina, P. M. Matiko, C. N. Biran, A. Curtis, V.
spellingShingle	Schmidt, W. P. Aunger, R. Coombes, Y. Maina, P. M. Matiko, C. N. Biran, A. Curtis, V. Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure
author_facet	Schmidt, W. P. Aunger, R. Coombes, Y. Maina, P. M. Matiko, C. N. Biran, A. Curtis, V.
author_sort	Schmidt, W. P.
title	Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure
title_short	Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure
title_full	Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure
title_fullStr	Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure
title_full_unstemmed	Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure
title_sort	determinants of handwashing practices in kenya : the role of media exposure, poverty and infrastructure
publishDate	2012
url	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/5339
_version_	1764394697716924416

Determinants of Handwashing Practices in Kenya : The Role of Media Exposure, Poverty and Infrastructure

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