Resources / Beyond Traditional KAP Surveys-Need for Addressing Other Determinants of Behavioral Change For More Effective Hygiene Promotion

Summary

To develop a more focused and target-oriented strategy for behavioural change in a donor-funded school WASH project in Pakistan, a sample pre-project knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey was conducted. The purpose of this survey was to support design of the hygiene promotion strategy based on information obtained. Subsequently, at the close of the project interventions, a post-KAP survey was conducted. The post KAP showed positive improvement as a result of School Sanitation and Hygiene Education (SSHE) measures; however, it raised some interesting new issues as well. A deeper analysis of the Pre- and Post- KAP surveys revealed that pre-survey findings were translated into the design of the hygiene education in the project; but other determinants, which are equally important for designing an effective hygiene communication plan, were overlooked or not considered in the design of the health and hygiene education (HHE) plan. This paper examines those determinants and their importance for shaping any successful behavioural communication plan.

Paper presented at the Hygiene Practitioners Workshop, Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 2010.