Media Access is Associated with Knowledge of Optimal Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in Tanzania
Summary:
The importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors in low- and middle-income countries in preventing childhood illness is well established. Tanzania is known to have high rates of chronic undernutrition which has been linked to poor WASH practices. Interviews were conducted with 5000 primary caregivers of children aged 023 months. Four measures of WASH knowledge were created to assess the relationship between WASH knowledge and access to different forms of media, such as television, radio, and mobile phones. WASH knowledge variables measured knowledge of when to wash hands, the need for soap when washing hands, when to wash a baby's hands, and how eating soil or chicken feces can affect a baby's health. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to measure the association between media access and WASH knowledge. Having watched television was positively associated with higher WASH knowledge indicators (all P< 0.05). Study findings indicate media access is associated with WASH knowledge among caregivers in resource-poor settings.
Background/Objectives:
Poor engagement in WASH behaviors is linked to undernutrition. WASH interventions during the first 3 years of life have been shown to directly impact health by supporting cognitive and physical development and decreasing enteropathy and stunting. Tanzania has some of the highest known rates of stunting. Addressing Stunting in Tanzania Early (ASTUTE) program addresses improving WASH practices for caregivers of children aged two and younger by increasing knowledge related to practices that prevent stunting. The objective of this study was to examine the association between media access and knowledge of WASH practices in Tanzania.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
A baseline survey was conducted in 2016 for the ASTUTE program intervention. A random selection of 5000 primary caregivers were chosen using probability proportional to size sampling. Enumerators were trained to conduct face-to-face interviews. To assess the relationship between WASH knowledge and media access, four measures of knowledge were created from questions that measured knowledge of when to wash hands, the need for soap when washing hands, when to wash a baby's hands, and how eating soil or chicken feces can affect a baby's health. Media access was measured using instrument questions relating to personal ownership of televisions, radios, and mobile phones. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Study findings indicate media access is associated with WASH knowledge among caregivers in resource-poor settings. Having watched television was positively associated with higher WASH knowledge indicators (all P< 0.05) for each WASH knowledge variable created. There was a positive correlation between the use of WhatsApp on a mobile device and three WASH knowledge variables (P< 0.05) 'when to wash hands', 'need for soap when washing hands', and 'when to wash baby's hands'. Association between listening to the radio and WASH knowledge was not significant.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
The Theory of Planned Behavior postulates that intention is the best predictor of behavior. Intention is determined by attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Knowledge contributes to shaping behavioral beliefs, subjective norms, and attitudes. This study supports the finding that interventions that incorporate mass media campaigns increase health knowledge. The study also contributes to the finding that the use of WhatsApp is suitable for health applications in low-resource settings.
Abstract submitted by:
Leiema Hunt
Taylor Hoj
Chelsi Taylor
Shelly Cooper
Mamadou Tounkara
Hilpa Shrestha
The importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors in low- and middle-income countries in preventing childhood illness is well established. Tanzania is known to have high rates of chronic undernutrition which has been linked to poor WASH practices. Interviews were conducted with 5000 primary caregivers of children aged 023 months. Four measures of WASH knowledge were created to assess the relationship between WASH knowledge and access to different forms of media, such as television, radio, and mobile phones. WASH knowledge variables measured knowledge of when to wash hands, the need for soap when washing hands, when to wash a baby's hands, and how eating soil or chicken feces can affect a baby's health. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to measure the association between media access and WASH knowledge. Having watched television was positively associated with higher WASH knowledge indicators (all P< 0.05). Study findings indicate media access is associated with WASH knowledge among caregivers in resource-poor settings.
Background/Objectives:
Poor engagement in WASH behaviors is linked to undernutrition. WASH interventions during the first 3 years of life have been shown to directly impact health by supporting cognitive and physical development and decreasing enteropathy and stunting. Tanzania has some of the highest known rates of stunting. Addressing Stunting in Tanzania Early (ASTUTE) program addresses improving WASH practices for caregivers of children aged two and younger by increasing knowledge related to practices that prevent stunting. The objective of this study was to examine the association between media access and knowledge of WASH practices in Tanzania.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
A baseline survey was conducted in 2016 for the ASTUTE program intervention. A random selection of 5000 primary caregivers were chosen using probability proportional to size sampling. Enumerators were trained to conduct face-to-face interviews. To assess the relationship between WASH knowledge and media access, four measures of knowledge were created from questions that measured knowledge of when to wash hands, the need for soap when washing hands, when to wash a baby's hands, and how eating soil or chicken feces can affect a baby's health. Media access was measured using instrument questions relating to personal ownership of televisions, radios, and mobile phones. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Study findings indicate media access is associated with WASH knowledge among caregivers in resource-poor settings. Having watched television was positively associated with higher WASH knowledge indicators (all P< 0.05) for each WASH knowledge variable created. There was a positive correlation between the use of WhatsApp on a mobile device and three WASH knowledge variables (P< 0.05) 'when to wash hands', 'need for soap when washing hands', and 'when to wash baby's hands'. Association between listening to the radio and WASH knowledge was not significant.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
The Theory of Planned Behavior postulates that intention is the best predictor of behavior. Intention is determined by attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Knowledge contributes to shaping behavioral beliefs, subjective norms, and attitudes. This study supports the finding that interventions that incorporate mass media campaigns increase health knowledge. The study also contributes to the finding that the use of WhatsApp is suitable for health applications in low-resource settings.
Abstract submitted by:
Leiema Hunt
Taylor Hoj
Chelsi Taylor
Shelly Cooper
Mamadou Tounkara
Hilpa Shrestha
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: IMA World Health