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Observed Practices and Perceived Advantages of Different Hand Cleansing Agents in Rural Bangladesh: Ash, Soil, and Soap
Journal Title
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
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Term and Year
Publication Date
2015-06-03
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Publication Volume
92
Publication Issue
6
Publication Begin
1111
Publication End
1116
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tropmed-92-1111.pdf
Adobe PDF, 189.44 KB
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Abstract
Bangladeshi communities have historically used ash and soil as handwashing agents. A structured observation study and qualitative interviews on the use of ash/soil and soap as handwashing agents were conducted in rural Bangladesh to help develop a handwashing promotion intervention. The observations were conducted among 1,000 randomly selected households from 36 districts. Fieldworkers observed people using ash/soil to wash their hand(s) on 13% of occasions after defecation and on 10% after cleaning a child's anus. This compares with 19% of people who used soap after defecation and 27% after cleaning a child who defecated. Using ash/soil or soap was rarely (< 1%) observed at other times recommended for handwashing. The qualitative study enrolled 24 households from three observation villages, where high usage of ash/soil for handwashing was detected. Most informants reported that ash/soil was used only for handwashing after fecal contact, and that ash/soil could clean hands as effectively as soap.
Citation
Nizame FA, Nasreen S, Halder AK, Arman S, Winch PJ, Unicomb L, Luby SP. Observed practices and perceived advantages of different hand cleansing agents in rural Bangladesh: ash, soil, and soap. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Jun;92(6):1111-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0378. Epub 2015 Apr 13. PMID: 25870425; PMCID: PMC4458811.