Experiences of participatory hygiene promotion

The Third Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project ( TWSSP) is being implemented in six districts in Sri Lanka and apart from the regular benefit monitoring process, it was decided to introduce the Qualitative Information Appraisal (QIA) Technique to evaluate the sub project performance. This assessment included the evaluation of hygiene practices of the poorest participants and was based on percentage of poorest women and men washing their hands at “critical” times and percentage of poorest women and men assisting children to wash hands at “critical” times. According to the results, the key reasons given for not washing hands is the lack of awareness and difficulty to change attitudes of others in own family. According to Q.I.A outcome, a new methodology has been proposed to introduce Participatory Hygiene Promotion Programs to communities. A Pilot level programme has been implemented in one district (Puttalam) out of 4 districts where QIA was carried out and the results and outcomes have been very encouraging.