Is soapy water a viable solution for handwashing in schools?
Despite the known health benefits of washing hands with soap, global handwashing rates are low. In Nyanza Province, Kenya, a follow-up of 55 pilot primary schools three years after the implementation of a safe water and hygiene intervention revealed that only 2 per cent (one school) provided soap for handwashing on the day of the assessment. After identifying barriers to soap provision, SWASH+ partners piloted a handwashing intervention using powdered soap mixed with water to create soapy water in place of bar soap in 11 schools. The first six months of unannounced visits showed high uptake (10 schools). A one-year follow-up visit revealed a decrease of soapy water use (four schools). This paper discusses the soapy water intervention, initial and follow-up monitoring findings, potential sustainability drivers of handwashing programmes in rural primary schools and next steps.Boyce, J.M., Kelliher, S. and Vallande, N. (2000) ‘Skin irritation and dryness associated with two hand-hygiene regimens: Soap-and-water handwashing versus hand antisepsis with an alcoholic hand gel’, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 21: 442-8.
Curtis, V. and Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review’, Lancet Infectious Diseases 3: 275-81.
O’Reilly, C.E., Freeman, M.C., Ravani, M., Migele, J., Mwaki, A., Ayalo, M., Ombeki, S., Hoekstra, R.M. and Quick, R. (2008) ‘The impact of a school-based safe water and hygiene programme on knowledge and practices of students and their parents: Nyanza Province, western Kenya, 2006’, Epidemiology & Infection 136: 80-91.
Prüss-Üstün, A., Bos, R., Gore, F. and Bartram, J. (2008) Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, Benefits and Sustainability of Interventions to Protect and Promote Health, World Health Organization, Geneva.
Rabie, T. and Curtis, V. (2006) ‘Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 11: 258-67.
Saboori, S., Mwaki, A., Porter, S.E., Okech, B.O., Freeman, M.C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2010) Sustaining School Hand Washing and Water Treatment Programs: Lessons Learned and to be Learned, The Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Sawamura, N. and Sifuna, D.N. (2008) ‘Universalizing primary education in Kenya: Is it beneficial and sustainable?’ Journal of International Cooperation in Education 11: 103-18.
UNICEF (2008) The State of the World's Children 2008, UNICEF, New York. Water and Sanitation Program (2009) Are Your Hands Clean Enough? Study Findings on Handwashing with Soap Behaviour in Kenya, WSP, UNICEF, Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.
Boyce, J.M., Kelliher, S. and Vallande, N. (2000) ‘Skin irritation and dryness associated with two hand-hygiene regimens: Soap-and-water handwashing versus hand antisepsis with an alcoholic hand gel’, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 21: 442-8.
Curtis, V. and Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review’, Lancet Infectious Diseases 3: 275-81.
O’Reilly, C.E., Freeman, M.C., Ravani, M., Migele, J., Mwaki, A., Ayalo, M., Ombeki, S., Hoekstra, R.M. and Quick, R. (2008) ‘The impact of a school-based safe water and hygiene programme on knowledge and practices of students and their parents: Nyanza Province, western Kenya, 2006’, Epidemiology & Infection 136: 80-91.
Prüss-Üstün, A., Bos, R., Gore, F. and Bartram, J. (2008) Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, Benefits and Sustainability of Interventions to Protect and Promote Health, World Health Organization, Geneva.
Rabie, T. and Curtis, V. (2006) ‘Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 11: 258-67.
Saboori, S., Mwaki, A., Porter, S.E., Okech, B.O., Freeman, M.C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2010) Sustaining School Hand Washing and Water Treatment Programs: Lessons Learned and to be Learned, The Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Sawamura, N. and Sifuna, D.N. (2008) ‘Universalizing primary education in Kenya: Is it beneficial and sustainable?’ Journal of International Cooperation in Education 11: 103-18.
UNICEF (2008) The State of the World's Children 2008, UNICEF, New York. Water and Sanitation Program (2009) Are Your Hands Clean Enough? Study Findings on Handwashing with Soap Behaviour in Kenya, WSP, UNICEF, Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.
Boyce, J.M., Kelliher, S. and Vallande, N. (2000) ‘Skin irritation and dryness associated with two hand-hygiene regimens: Soap-and-water handwashing versus hand antisepsis with an alcoholic hand gel’, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 21: 442-8.
Curtis, V. and Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review’, Lancet Infectious Diseases 3: 275-81.
O’Reilly, C.E., Freeman, M.C., Ravani, M., Migele, J., Mwaki, A., Ayalo, M., Ombeki, S., Hoekstra, R.M. and Quick, R. (2008) ‘The impact of a school-based safe water and hygiene programme on knowledge and practices of students and their parents: Nyanza Province, western Kenya, 2006’, Epidemiology & Infection 136: 80-91.
Prüss-Üstün, A., Bos, R., Gore, F. and Bartram, J. (2008) Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, Benefits and Sustainability of Interventions to Protect and Promote Health, World Health Organization, Geneva.
Rabie, T. and Curtis, V. (2006) ‘Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 11: 258-67.
Saboori, S., Mwaki, A., Porter, S.E., Okech, B.O., Freeman, M.C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2010) Sustaining School Hand Washing and Water Treatment Programs: Lessons Learned and to be Learned, The Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Sawamura, N. and Sifuna, D.N. (2008) ‘Universalizing primary education in Kenya: Is it beneficial and sustainable?’ Journal of International Cooperation in Education 11: 103-18.
UNICEF (2008) The State of the World's Children 2008, UNICEF, New York. Water and Sanitation Program (2009) Are Your Hands Clean Enough? Study Findings on Handwashing with Soap Behaviour in Kenya, WSP, UNICEF, Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.
Boyce, J.M., Kelliher, S. and Vallande, N. (2000) ‘Skin irritation and dryness associated with two hand-hygiene regimens: Soap-and-water handwashing versus hand antisepsis with an alcoholic hand gel’, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 21: 442-8.
Curtis, V. and Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review’, Lancet Infectious Diseases 3: 275-81.
O’Reilly, C.E., Freeman, M.C., Ravani, M., Migele, J., Mwaki, A., Ayalo, M., Ombeki, S., Hoekstra, R.M. and Quick, R. (2008) ‘The impact of a school-based safe water and hygiene programme on knowledge and practices of students and their parents: Nyanza Province, western Kenya, 2006’, Epidemiology & Infection 136: 80-91.
Prüss-Üstün, A., Bos, R., Gore, F. and Bartram, J. (2008) Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, Benefits and Sustainability of Interventions to Protect and Promote Health, World Health Organization, Geneva.
Rabie, T. and Curtis, V. (2006) ‘Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 11: 258-67.
Saboori, S., Mwaki, A., Porter, S.E., Okech, B.O., Freeman, M.C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2010) Sustaining School Hand Washing and Water Treatment Programs: Lessons Learned and to be Learned, The Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Sawamura, N. and Sifuna, D.N. (2008) ‘Universalizing primary education in Kenya: Is it beneficial and sustainable?’ Journal of International Cooperation in Education 11: 103-18.
UNICEF (2008) The State of the World's Children 2008, UNICEF, New York. Water and Sanitation Program (2009) Are Your Hands Clean Enough? Study Findings on Handwashing with Soap Behaviour in Kenya, WSP, UNICEF, Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.
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