Hands4Health: Hand Hygiene, Water Quality and Sanitation in Schools Not Connected to a Functional Water Supply System: a Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial in Nigeria and Palestine

Detailed Summary

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the hands4health hand hygiene multi-component intervention on students and teachers in primary schools with limited access to water in Nigeria and Palestine. To evaluate the effects of the intervention, the investigators will involve the participants in the included schools in the following data collection methods, including (i) a survey regarding their thoughts, behaviours, and practices related to handwashing at school, (ii) structured observation of their handwashing behaviour (iii) hand rinse sample collection to check for bacteria on their hands, (iv) absenteeism tracking through a daily journal to record the reasons for any absences, with a specific focus on identifying if they are related to hygiene-related diseases, and (v) discussions and interviews to gather their perspectives on the perceived impacts of the intervention on their health and well-being. The investigators will collect data using these methods before the intervention starts, a few months after it begins, and again one year later. The schools will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will receive the intervention activities, including handwashing station/rehabilitation of water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, behavioural change intervention, capacity development, and management support. The other group will not receive any intervention until the end of the study. By comparing the two groups, the investigators will determine if the intervention had any impact on health determinants including, hygiene infrastructure, handwashing knowledge, behaviour, beliefs, etc.

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions