Download the full study (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Water for Women Fund)

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The study aimed to understand the effect of the installation of handwashing stations as well as the effect of hygiene promotion. Of the 278 respondents that reported using the hand washing stations, 87% said that there were always someone using the station; 87% felt that the presence of the station made them want to wash their hands. The study found that motivation to wash hands could relate to access to hand washing stations and hand washing materials. It could also relate to functionality and features of the hand washing station. Other key findings include:

• Most survey respondents were using the hand washing stations and water tanks they had received.
• Most survey respondents washed their hands more since the installation of hand washing stations.
• There is a relationship between availability of hand washing stations, materials, water tanks, the station’s design and set up and survey respondents’ motivation to wash hands. However, these are not drivers for increased hand washing.
• People’s past experiences and practices and community norms of hygiene practices do not have an apparent relationship with hand washing practices.
• The study aligns with the literature in noting that promotional strategies that combine hygiene and sanitation measures appear to have a larger impact than either one alone.