Increasing the effectiveness of handwashing among people affected by crisis: an evaluation of the Jengu handwashing facility
Project overview
This study will assess whether providing crisis-affected populations with increased access to desirable and durable handwashing facilities will lead to increases in handwashing behaviour. The research will also build evidence on the acceptability, usability, durability, cost-benefits, maintenance and sustainable local production.
Countries
Kenya
Uganda
Organisations
British Red Cross
Partners
APHRC, IFRC, Field Ready, LSHTM, Kenya Red Cross, Uganda Red Cross, ARUP
Area of funding
Humanitarian Research
Grant amount
£564,071
Start date
01
December
2021
End date
01
November
2024
Project length (in months)
35
Funding calls
R2HC Annual Funding Call
Focus areas
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Topics
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Status
Live
Project solution
This project offers [specific solution or intervention] to tackle [challenge]. By implementing [strategies, tools, or innovations], the project aims to achieve [desired outcomes]. The approach is designed to [specific actions or methods] to bring about meaningful change in [community, region, or issue area].
Expected outcomes
This project aims to achieve [specific outcomes], such as [measurable results, improvements, or changes]. The expected impact includes [benefits to the target community, advancements in research or innovation, or long-term effects]. By the end of the project, we anticipate [specific changes or milestones] that will contribute to [broader goals or objectives].
Sheillah Simiyu
African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Robust evaluation of interventions taking place during epidemics is challenging, but very important to ensure that the activities are working as effectively as possible to stop transmission. This research will provide evidence on local production and supply of handwashing infrastructure, hand hygiene habits in crisis affected populations, and how hand hygiene habits can be initiated and sustained over time. This evidence could have an impact on reducing disease transmission and improving health in crisis-affected settings .
Naoko Kozuki
Principal Investigator
Community engagement is widely recognised as a crucial component of effective Ebola preparedness and response efforts. Lessons from North Kivu to date highlight the need to invest in continued learning and finding new ways and approaches to achieve effective community engagement across response components. This study will look at community engagement to support improvements in infection, prevention and control activities at health facilities.
Principal Investigators: Sheillah Simiyu, APHRC & Sian White, LSHTM
Purpose
Our research will contribute to informed humanitarian decision-making by providing an understanding of the ‘life-cycle’ of handwashing infrastructure and addressing major research gaps. It will also improve understanding of how hand hygiene habits can be initiated and sustained over time which could have a meaningful impact on disease transmission in crisis-affected settings. Specifically, this research aims to assess whether providing crisis-affected populations with increased access to desirable and durable handwashing facilities will lead to increases in handwashing behaviour. The research will build evidence on the acceptability, usability, durability, cost-benefits, maintenance and sustainable local production of the facility. The study will comprise a before and after study to assess effectiveness. This will be complemented by formative research into behaviour and supply chains, a cost-benefit study, and a process evaluation.
Expected Outcomes
While our research will focus on evaluating the Jengu handwashing facility, it will also generate broader insights about handwashing infrastructure and behaviour including:
- Whether investing in more robust and behaviour-centric infrastructure will result in improved behaviour and whether behavioural changes are sustained over time.
- An understanding of the features of handwashing facilities that are preferred by crisis-affected populations, and which elements of the facilities are most durable under heavy use.
- The effectiveness of different operational and maintenance modalities for handwashing infrastructure in crisis settings.
- The rate of soap and water consumption from shared handwashing facilities and the longevity of handwashing infrastructure.
- The requirements for, and impact of, a sustainable local supply chain for manufacturing and distributing handwashing facilities.
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Project delivery & updates
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Latest updates
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