Hands4Health: A Multi-component Intervention on Hand Hygiene & Well-being in Schools in Nigeria & Palestine (H4H)

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.

Conditions

• Hand Hygiene
• Handwashing Behaviour
• Well-Being

Interventions

OTHER

Multi-component hand hygiene intervention in primary schools not connected to functional water supply system in Nigeria and Palestine

Each participating school receives: (i) Two Gravit'eau handwashing stations (http://www.graviteau.ch): these systems recycle on-site greywater and operate through gravity and a manual foot pump, and can be produced locally. (ii) Behavior change activities: Developed by a group of expert psychologists (http://www.ranasmosler.com/ranas), utilizing the risks, attitudes, norms, abilities, and self-regulation (RANAS) approach. (iii) WASH infrastructure rehabilitation and soap dispenser installation. (iv) Controlled chlorine monitoring: Equipment provided for monitoring chlorine concentration in water storage, with staff training. (v) Preventive maintenance: Trained circuit rider inspects infrastructure regularly under WASH committee supervision

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

  collaborator OTHER

• Terre des Hommes

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• CESVI

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mirko S. Winler, Prof. · wiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and University of Basel

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-06-29

Primary Completion

2024-06-26

Completion

2024-08-16

Countries

• Nigeria
• Palestinian Territories

Study Locations