Contribution of Hygiene Behavior Change Interventions in Trachoma Elimination Efforts in Uganda: A Case Study of Napak and Nakapiripirit Districts

8 Pages Posted: 20 Jul 2022

See all articles by Denis Kayiwa

Denis Kayiwa

WaterAid Uganda

Ronnie Murungu

WaterAid Tanzania

David Watako

WaterAid Tanzania

Martin Othieno Radooli

WaterAid Uganda

Jane Sembuche

WaterAid East Africa

Olutayo Bolawole

WaterAid East Africa

Date Written: July 17, 2020

Abstract

Trachoma a neglected tropical disease remains the World’s leading infectious cause of blindness thriving especially in living conditions where there are shortages of water, inadequate sanitation and where numerous eye-seeking flies are present (WHO 2018). World Health Organization (WHO) adopted the “SAFE (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements) strategy for elimination of trachoma by 2020. Today the number of people at risk of trachoma has fallen from 1.5 billion in 2002 to just over 142 million in 2019, a reduction of 91%, (WHO 2019). WaterAid Uganda (WAU), Implemented hand and face washing 2-year project in Napak and Nakirpirit districts of Uganda as part of the F and E strategy guided by a Hygiene Behavior Change (HBC) strategy. This paper seeks to exhibit the contribution of Hygiene Behavior Change, particularly adoption of hand and face washing in addressing the high prevalence Trachoma. A cross-sectional household and community surveys were used to assesses the status of face and hand washing before and after the project implementation as part of the baseline and end-line survey/s conducted by the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP). In the GTMP 2007 Baseline surveys; Napak and Nakirpirit districts had a Trachomatous follicular (TF) first stage of trachoma characterized by the inflammation of the eyelids prevalence of > 10%. In the 2018 Trachoma impact assessment survey, Napak and Nakirpirit districts had a TF prevalence of > 5% and have now achieved elimination threshold thus no more intervention. The end-line survey indicates increase in households with hand/face washing facilities with water by 43% (4.2 to 7.4, p=0.03) and households with hand/face washing facilities with soap increased by 59.5% (1.7 to 4.2, p=0.016). Respondents who knew 1+ symptoms of trachoma increased by 21.8% (70.9 to 90.7, p<0.001). Belief amongst primary caregivers that health hygiene practices (such as hand and face washing) will reduce chances of getting trachoma increased by 42.3% (43.3 to 75.0, p<.001). In summary, HBC communication interventions can bring about change community members’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to prevention and control of trachoma irrespective of the community’s poverty levels. Findings highlighted the need to integrate HBC intervention in ongoing WASH intervention as part of the Facial cleanliness and environmental improvement(F&E) component.

Keywords: Trachoma, Hygiene Behavior Change, Facial cleanliness, Environment, Blindness, Water, Sanitation

Suggested Citation

Kayiwa, Denis and Murungu, Ronnie and Watako, David and Radooli, Martin Othieno and Sembuche, Jane and Bolawole, Olutayo, Contribution of Hygiene Behavior Change Interventions in Trachoma Elimination Efforts in Uganda: A Case Study of Napak and Nakapiripirit Districts (July 17, 2020). OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 13, No. 02, pp. 75-92, 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4165108

Denis Kayiwa (Contact Author)

WaterAid Uganda ( email )

Uganda

Ronnie Murungu

WaterAid Tanzania ( email )

Dar-es- Salaam
Tanzania

David Watako

WaterAid Tanzania ( email )

Dar-es- Salaam
Tanzania

Martin Othieno Radooli

WaterAid Uganda ( email )

Uganda

Jane Sembuche

WaterAid East Africa ( email )

Kigali
Rwanda

Olutayo Bolawole

WaterAid East Africa

Kigali
Rwanda

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