Publication: Global Scaling Up Handwashing Project : Results, Impacts, and Learning from Vietnam
Date
2012-09
ISSN
Published
2012-09
Author(s)
Nguyen, Nga Kim
Devine, Jacqueline
Abstract
The Vietnam Handwashing Initiative (HWI)
began in January 2006 with the goal of reducing morbidity
and mortality from diarrheal diseases in children less than
five years of age. In December 2006, Vietnam became one of
four countries in the Water and Sanitation Program's
(WSP) Global Scaling Up Handwashing Project. The objective
of the project was to learn how to stimulate improved hand
washing behaviors at large scale, sustain the activities
after the project ended, and measure the impact on
behavioral, health, and welfare outcomes. This learning note
presents the achievements, learning, and reflections that
resulted from implementing a large-scale hand washing
program in Vietnam and provides recommendations for future
hygiene promotion initiatives. During the four-year
implementation (2006-2010), the program achieved all four of
its key objectives. However, a randomized control trial
(RCT) impact evaluation found no significant changes in hand
washing behavior and no impact on health in children under
two. Although much has been learned about how to implement a
nation-wide communication program in Vietnam, behavior
change at scale has proven challenging.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Nguyen, Nga Kim; Devine, Jacqueline. 2012. Global Scaling Up Handwashing Project : Results, Impacts, and Learning from Vietnam. Water and sanitation program learning note;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17095 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”