Knowledge, attitudes & practices : a report prepared for Ambala school sanitation programme Haryana

Development planners agree that provision of safe drinking water and safe disposal of waste are the key issues for promoting health, but, equally, education which effects behavioural change in sanitation practices is vital. Since children are more receptive to new ideas and the network of schools offers an infrastructure to inculcate hygiene habits and sanitary practices which can then influence parents and the community, UNICEF has begun to set up an intensive school sanitation programme in Ambala and four other districts in India. This report is the result of a study carried out in selected schools and villages of Ambala District to provide relevant information for the successful implementation, management and completion of the project. Data has been collected and analysed separately for schools, anganwadis, teachers, students and parents and is presented in the study through analytical tables, diagrams and charts. Data is presented on the following topics: access to drinking water and sanitation facilities, their use and maintenance; knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the seven components of sanitation; efforts made by teachers, anganwadi workers and parents in promoting sanitation in schools and the village communities; and perceptions and attitudes of the teachers, students and parents towards their involvemnet and role in the promotion of sanitation. The study shows that, at present, teachers are more concerned with promoting personal hygiene rather than environmental sanitation and fail to see the link between a clean environment and good health. Regarding community involvement, only 36% of total respondents are members of Parent Teachers Associations and it is noted that although children?s personal hygiene is discussed in meetings, issues such as sanitary excreta disposal in schools are not discussed at all. Data from student respondents shows that a large proportion are prevented from using latrines in schools by their teachers or prefer to go in the open. Clearly hygiene promotion at present is not effective. The report recommends that a planned, participatory and promotional hygiene education strategy should be adopted, with specific messages and inventory for specific target groups so that sanitation and hygienic practices become an integral part of daily life, resulting in improved environment and quality of life.