Watson, J., Dreibelbis, R., Aunger, R., Deola, C., King, K., Long, S., Chase, R. P., Cumming, O. (2018) Child's Play: Harnessing Play and Curiosity Motives to Improve Child Handwashing in a Humanitarian Setting

Abstract In humanitarian emergency settings there is need for low cost and rapidly deployable interventions to protect vulnerable children, in- and out-of-school, from diarrhoeal diseases. Handwashing with soap can greatly reduce diarrhoea but interventions specifically targeting children's handwashing behaviour in humanitarian settings have not been tested. Traditional children's handwashing promotion interventions have been school-focused, resource-intensive and reliant on health-based messaging. However, recent research from non-humanitarian settings […]

Goel, S., Chandrashekar, B.R. (2020) Evaluating the Efficacy of Handwashing Demonstration on Hand Hygiene Among School Students. An Interventional Study

This was an interventional study carried out over a period of 5 days among 21 schoolchildren aged 12–18 years in their respective school premises. Participants were requested to rub their hands with an UV-sensitive fluorescent lotion and then wash them. Hands were air-dried and examined under UV rays for blue light emission in a dark room. Emission of blue light highlighted parts of hand where […]

Global Handwashing Partnership (2021) 2020 Global Handwashing Day Report

Global Handwashing Partnership (0) The Handwashing Handbook

This handbook is based on the experience of the Global Handwashing Partnership and presents best practices and new concepts to improve the uptake of handwashing. This handbook updates the approaches shared in the previous Handwashing Handbook, which was published in 2005 by the World Bank with support from the partners of the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (PPPHW), the original name of the Global Handwashing […]

Global Handwashing Partnership (2017) FAQ: Using Nudges to Encourage Handwashing with Soap

Handwashing with soap is an effective way to prevent diseases and build healthy futures. For handwashing to be effective, it needs to be practiced consistently and thoroughly. Even when people have access to soap and water, and know how and why to wash their hands, many still do not properly wash their hands consistently at critical times. The handwashing behavior change challenge is not only […]

White, S. (2021) How can Implementers Use Evidence to Inform Their Handwashing Programme Design?

Fit for School (2015) WASHaLOT Field Guide: Prefabricated Group Washing Facility for Schools

The simple hygiene habits of handwashing with soap and toothbrushing significantly contribute to the health and well-being of children and should be part of their education. While the idea of teaching handwashing and toothbrushing in schools has been around for decades, the actual practice of these activities has been hindered by long queues around the washing station. The concept of building school washing facilities that […]

White, S., Thorseth, A. H., Dreibelbis, R., Curtis, V. (2020) The Determinants of Handwashing Behaviour in Domestic Settings: An Integrative Systematic Review

Background: Hygiene promotion interventions are likely to be more effective if they target the determinants of handwashing behaviour. Synthesis of the evidence on the determinants of handwashing behaviour is needed to enable practitioners to use evidence in hygiene promotion programming. Purpose: To identify, define and categorise the determinants of handwashing behaviour in domestic settings and to appraise the quality of this evidence. Methods: We conducted an integrative […]

Friedrich, M. (2016) Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Handwashing Campaign in Harare, Zimbabwe. A Case Study Applying the Practical Guide Systematic Behavior Change in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Consistent hand hygiene can reduce morbidity and mortality from diarrheal and respiratory diseases. Diarrhea and pneumonia are still the leading causes of mortality among children under five years of age in low-income and middle-income countries. Recent findings suggest that interventions promoting handwashing with soap lead to a 40% reduction in the risk of diarrhea. Despite its health impact, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced. It […]

Lawrence, J. J., Yeboah-Antwi, K., Biemba, G., Ram, P. K., Osbert, N., Sabin, L. L., Hamer, D. H. (2016) Beliefs, Behaviors, and Perceptions of Community-Led Total Sanitation and Their Relation to Improved Sanitation in Rural Zambia

Inadequate hygiene and sanitation remain leading global contributors to morbidity and mortality in children and adults. One strategy for improving sanitation access is community-led total sanitation (CLTS), in which participants are guided into self-realization of the importance of sanitation through activities called “triggering.” This qualitative study explored community members' and stakeholders' sanitation, knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors during early CLTS implementation in Zambia. We conducted 67 […]

Dreibelbis, R., Kroeger, A., Hossain, K., Venkatesh, M., Ram, P.K. (2016) Behavior Change without Behavior Change Communication: Nudging Handwashing among Primary School Students in Bangladesh

Behavior change communication for improving handwashing with soap can be labor and resource intensive, yet quality results are difficult to achieve. Nudges are environmental cues engaging unconscious decision-making processes to prompt behavior change. In this proof-of-concept study, we developed an inexpensive set of nudges to encourage handwashing with soap after toilet use in two primary schools in rural Bangladesh. We completed direct observation of behaviors […]

Coombes, Y., Devine, J. (2010) Introducing FOAM: A Framework to Analyze Handwashing Behaviors to Design Effective Handwashing Programs

The FOAM (Focus on Opportunity, Ability, and Motivation) is a framework designed to help in the development, monitoring, and evaluation of handwashing behavior change programs. FOAM was developed for use in resource-poor settings, but it can also be adapted for other socioeconomic environments. This working paper is intended for use by program managers implementing handwashing behavior change initiatives, as well as multilateral and bilateral agencies, […]

Ramos, M., Benelli, P., Irvine, E., Watson, J. (2016) WASH in Emergencies. Problem Exploration Report. Handwashing

UNICEF (2020) Handwashing Stations and Supplies for the COVID-19

Handwashing with soap, when done correctly, is critical in the fight against COVID-19, but 3 billion people have no ready access to a place to wash their hands with soap at home. WHO released interim guidance on 1 April 2020, recommending to all Member States to make hand hygiene facilities in front of public and private commercial buildings as well as at all transport hubs […]

Knight, J., Kontos, L., Da Cunha Forte, J., Muktadir, G., Gautam, O. P. (2020) Technical Guide for Handwashing Facilities in Public Places and Building

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that all member states provide universal access to public handwashing facilities. Consequently, WaterAid and other organisations have been working with governments to install handwashing facilities in a wide range of public places and buildings, to support improved handwashing practices and reduce transmission of the virus. Locations include markets, public transport hubs, public/ […]

Wash'Em (2019) How to Design Handwashing Facilities that Change Behaviour

De Buck, E., Van Remoortel, H., Hannes, K., Govender, T., Naidoo, S., Avau, B., Vande veegaete, A., Musekiwa, A., Vittoria, L., Cargo, M., Mosler, H-J., Vandekerckhove, P., Young, T. (2017) Approaches to promote handwashing and sanitation behaviour change in low- and middle-income countries: a mixed method systematic review

This Campbell Systematic Review examines the effectiveness of different approaches for promoting handwashing and sanitation behaviour change, and factors affecting implementation, in low and middle-income countries. The review summarises evidence from 42 impact evaluations, and from 28 qualitative studies.

M. Peter, V. Misev, V. Schelbert, C. Lüthi, A. Panesar, J.C. Schlenk, N. Stauf, S. Semiyaga (2022) Handwashing Facilities Overview and Decision Support Tool with Case Studies from Uganda

Handwashing Facilities - Overview and Decision Support Tool with Case Studies from Uganda The objectives of this publication are twofold. The first objective is to give an overview of common types of handwashing facilities with a number of key aspects that need to be considered during the planning stage. Focus is placed on handwashing facilities that are generally suitable for installation at public and commercial buildings […]

UNICEF (2020) Covid-19. Handwashing with Soap (HWWS) Facilities

Handwashing with soap for minimum 40 seconds is one of the precautionary measures suggested and advocated globally since the outbreak of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease). The pandemic has created a demand for behaviour change and sustained practices of Handwashing with soap. This calls for exploring existing options of handwashing stations and create newer designs of handwashing stations globally, majorly catering to the demand of COVID […]

WHO, UNICEF (2020) Hand Hygiene for All

Three billion people – 40 per cent of the world’s population – do not have a place in their homes to wash their hands with water and soap. Threem quarters of those who lack access to water and soap live in the world’s poorest countries and are amongst the most vulnerable: children and families living in informal settlements, migrant and refugee camps, or in areas […]