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TitleCan hygiene be cool and fun? : insights from school children in Senegal
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsSidibe, M, Curtis, V
Secondary TitleField note / WSP
Pagination12 p. : 4 boxes, 1 tab.
Date Published2007-03-01
PublisherWater and Sanitation Program - African Region
Place PublishedNairobi, Kenya
Keywordsbehaviour, child health, hand washing, health education, schools, sdiafr, sdihyg, senegal dakar, use of facilities
Abstract

A research project conducted among primary schools in Dakar suggests that relatively simple low-cost interventions can have far-reaching effects in improving children's hygiene practices. This is provided that motivational factors and children's sensitivities in relation to toilet practice and personal hygiene are taken into account. This research investigated what motivates primary school children to adopt hygienic hand-washing and toilet practices, and how this understanding can inform the design of simple effective sanitation and hygiene programs in schools. Whilst school sanitation and hygiene programs have existed for a long time, there has been no common route to designing programs that have a lasting impact on hygiene behaviour both for children and their homes. To develop communication programs targeted at primary school children, the first step is to gain a better general understanding of this age group, their habits, their motivations and their world. It is essential to systematically explore the child's point of view in order to design effective hygiene and sanitation interventions for schools. How this can be done simply and cheaply is demonstrated in this field note. Innovative tools are used to gather insights from children. A wide range of reasons why pupils avoid using school toilets is revealed and some of the reasons that children have for not doing what adults expect them to do.

With recommendations, references and further reading advice.

Notes12 ref.
Custom 1304, 203.2

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