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Water treatment and handwashing practices in rural Kenyan health care facilities and households six years after the installation of portable water stations and hygiene trainin

Water treatment and handwashing practices in rural Kenyan health care facilities and households six years after the installation of portable water stations and hygiene trainin

Publication Year:
2018
Authors:
Rajasingham, Anu; Leso, Margaret; Ombeki, Samuel; Ayers, Tracy; Quick, Robert
Language:
English
Affiliated Orgs.:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CARE International
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Summary:
Evaluate the effectiveness of a water treatment and hygiene intervention program in rural Kenyan health care facilities and households six years after its implementation.
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Resource Information

Abstract

Many health care facilities (HCFs) and households in low-and-middle-income countries have inadequate access to water for hygiene and consumption. To address these problems, handwashing and drinking water stations were installed in 53 HCFs with prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission of HIV programs in Kenya in 2005, and hygiene education was provided to health workers and clinic clients. To assess this program, we selected a random sample of 30 HCFs, observed the percentage of handwashing and drinking water stations that were functional and in use, and after that interviewed health providers and clients about hygiene and water treatment. Results indicated that, six years after implementation, 80.0% of HCFs had at least one functional handwashing station and 83.3% had at least one functional drinking water station. In addition, 60% of HCFs had soap at ≥ one handwashing stations, and 23.3% had ≥ one container with detectable free chlorine. Of 299 clients (mothers with ≥ one child under five), 57.2% demonstrated proper water treatment knowledge, 93.3% reported ever using water treatment products, 16.4% had detectable chlorine residual in stored water, and 89.0% demonstrated proper handwashing technique. Six years after program implementation, although most HCFs had water stations and most clients could demonstrate proper handwashing technique, water stored in most clinics and homes was not treated.

Resource Type

Journal Article

Publication Year

2018

Author

Rajasingham, Anu; Leso, Margaret; Ombeki, Samuel; Ayers, Tracy; Quick, Robert

Language

English

Organizational Affiliation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CARE International

Relevant Country

Kenya

Specific Contaminants

Other Chemicals, Free chlorine

Specific Solutions

WaterGuard

Business Connect Takeaways

Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities is limited in many rural areas of developing countries, leading to high rates of waterborne illness.
Household water treatment and handwashing practices can significantly reduce the risk of waterborne illness, but these practices are often not widely adopted in rural areas due to factors such as lack of awareness, affordability, and availability of appropriate technologies.
Community-based approaches that involve local stakeholders such as community health workers and community-based health insurance schemes can be effective in promoting household water treatment and handwashing practices in rural areas.

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