Monitoring Hygiene Behaviour Change
CONFERENCE: WEDC Conference, Addis Ababa
DATE: 2009
AUTHORS: Waterkeyn, J & Rosenfeld, J.
TITLE: Monitoring Hygiene Behaviour Change Through Community Health Clubs.
ABSTRACT: After over a decade of successful hygiene and sanitation programmes throughout Africa, the Community Health Club Approach is now recognised as a key strategy that can predictably deliver a high level of cost-effective hygiene behaviour change (Cairncross et al., 2003). New data from Zimbabwe, shows that in Chipinge District, zero open defecation (ZOD) was achieved in 37 Community Health Clubs where 2,388 members also achieved a 44% average improved hygiene behaviour change of 17 proxy indicators within twelve months. In South Africa, a recent pilot project has shown a 36% change, taking an average of 12 proxy indicators within just six months. Hand-washing practices were transformed: 82% had a hand-washing facility compared to 28% before the project started; the use of soap for hand washing rose from 39% to 93%. Measuring behavior change is critical and has been made more reliable using the new Mobile Researcher which enables community monitoring of hygiene using a cell phone. This technology is also 40% more cost-effective than traditional paper-based data collection. As the CHC Approach creates a demand for water and sanitation, it could contribute significantly to meeting the MDG targets if it could be scaled up within the next five years.