Handwashing with soap after potential faecal contact: global, regional and country estimates

Wolf, Jennyfer; Johnston, Richard B.; Freeman, Matthew C.; Ram, Pavani K.; Slaymaker, Tom; Laurenz, Eric; Prüss‐Üstün, Annette

doi:10.1093/ije/dyy253

Cited by 82 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…We found that more than three-quarters of the survey participants have taken some preventive actions, including social distancing, handwashing, coughing etiquette, and strengthening immunity. Because the previous empirical studies did not include developed countries like Japan, [17] there is little scientific evidence that Japanese people prefer cleanliness and tend to wash their hands relatively more frequently than other countries. In Japanese communities, water facilities for handwashing with soap and hand sanitizers are normally placed various public places, such as train stations and supermarkets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Japanese citizens' behavioral changes and preparedness against COVID-19: An online survey during the early phase of the pandemic

et al. 2020

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The Japanese government instituted countermeasures against COVID-19, a pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus, in January 2020. Seeking "people's behavioral changes," in which the government called on the public to take precautionary measures or exercise selfrestraint, was one of the important strategies. The purpose of this study is to investigate how and from when Japanese citizens have changed their precautionary behavior under circumstances in which the government has only requested their cooperation. This study uses micro data from a cross-sectional survey conducted on an online platform of an online research company, based on quota sampling that is representative of the Japanese population. By the end of March 2020, a total of 11,342 respondents, aged from 20 to 64 years, were recruited. About 85 percent reported practising the social distancing measures recommended by the government including more females than males and more older than younger participants. Frequent handwashing is conducted by 86 percent of all participants, 92 percent of female, and 87.9 percent of over-40 participants. The most important event influencing these precautionary actions was the infection aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which occurred in early February 2020 (23 percent). Information from the central and local governments, received by 60 percent of the participants, was deemed trustworthy by 50 percent. However, the results also showed that about 20 percent of the participants were reluctant to implement proper prevention measures. The statistical analysis indicated that the typical characteristics of those people were male, younger (under 30 years old), unmarried, from lower-income households, a drinking or smoking habit, and a higher extraversion score. To prevent the spread of infection in Japan, it is imperative to address these individuals and encourage their behavioural changes using various means to reach and influence them.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Japanese citizens' behavioral changes and preparedness against COVID-19: An online survey during the early phase of the pandemic

et al. 2020

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“…This may be explained by the fact that the presence of soap and water on premises may not necessarily reflect handwashing practices at critical times such as before and after meal preparation, eating and after visiting the toilet. Biran et al in 2008 made the valid point that estimating handwashing through observation of facilities with soap may be poorly associated with actual handwashing practices [47] and even among those with access, handwashing is often inadequately practiced [48].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of access to water, sanitation and handwashing facilities on child growth indicators: Evidence from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2016

2020

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Introduction Poor access to water, sanitation, and handwashing (WASH) facilities frequently contribute to child growth failure. The role of access to WASH facilities on child growth outcomes in Ethiopia is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine individual and combined effects of access to WASH facilities on child growth outcomes. Methods Data for this analysis was sourced from the recent Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2016. A multivariable logistic regression model was applied to identify the separate and combined association of access to WASH facilities with child growth outcomes. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Results Included in the analyses were data for children 0-59 months of age, which amounted to valid data for 9588 children with a height-forage z-score (HAZ), 9752 children with a weight-forage z-score (WAZ) and 9607 children with a weight-for-height z-score (WHZ). Children with access to improved combined sanitation with handwashing facilities had 29% lower odds of linear growth failure (stunting) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51-0.99) compared with those with unimproved. Children with access to combined improved WASH facilities were 33% less likely to have linear growth failure (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45-0.98). Access to improved handwashing alone reduced the odds of being underweight by 17% (AOR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98) compared with unimproved. Improved water and sanitation separately as well as combined WASH were not associated with decreased odds of underweight and wasting.

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“…Other studies of handwashing behaviour in refugee camps receiving regular soap distributions in Ethiopia found HWWS rates of 4% (15) and 19% (13). A recent review of national survey data estimated that rates of HWWS after toilet use are likely to be about 8% within the World Health Organisation African region (32). It is possible that it was the distribution of the handwashing facility itself, rather than soap or mirrors, that made a more substantial contribution to encourage handwashing behaviour (both with water only and with soap) but this study was not designed to measure this.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A pilot study of the effect of improved hygiene kits on handwashing with soap among internally displaced persons in Ethiopia.

Thorseth

Heath

Sisay

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Internally displaced persons (IDPs) forced to flee from their homes due to conflict and drought are at particular risk of morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases. Regular handwashing with soap could substantially reduce the risk of these infections, but the behaviour is challenging to practice routinely while living in resource-poor, informal settlements. To mitigate these challenges, humanitarian aid organisations distribute hygiene kits including soap and handwashing infrastructure. Our study aimed to assess the effect of improved kits on handwashing behaviours among IDPs in Moyale, Ethiopia. Methods The pilot study evaluated three interventions separately; liquid soap, a good quality scented bar soap and a mirror as additions to a regular hygiene kit. The kit was distributed to all study groups, with 3 of the study groups receiving one of the interventions each. Three to six weeks after distribution, behaviour change was assessed through structured observations, surveys and focus group discussions. Results Handwashing with soap was rare at key times both in all study groups. In the group that received liquid soap, handwashing with soap was seen at 20% of key times. In the control arm this was 17%, while in the two other intervention arms prevalence was <11%. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection indicated that liquid soap encourages handwashing with soap at key times. The good quality scented bar soap and mirror were not found to have an observed effect on behaviour but were viewed as desirable by participants who also reported that the standard bar soap distributed in hygiene kits was not nice to use. Conclusion This study was to our knowledge the first randomised intervention study on handwashing among IDPs living in a non-camp setting. The study shows that improved kits have potential to make handwashing more desirable and easier to practice, and further research including formative assessments prior to the design of hygiene kits should be conducted to ensure maximal uptake. The challenges of doing research in conflict-affected regions had considerable implications on the design and implementation of this study.Trial registration The trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov 6 September 2019 (reg no: NCT04078633)

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Handwashing with soap after potential faecal contact: global, regional and country estimates

Cited by 82 publications

References 33 publications

Japanese citizens' behavioral changes and preparedness against COVID-19: An online survey during the early phase of the pandemic

Japanese citizens' behavioral changes and preparedness against COVID-19: An online survey during the early phase of the pandemic

The effect of access to water, sanitation and handwashing facilities on child growth indicators: Evidence from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2016

A pilot study of the effect of improved hygiene kits on handwashing with soap among internally displaced persons in Ethiopia.

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