Millions of people, most of whom are children in developing countries, die of basic hygiene-related diseases every year. Interventions in hygiene, sanitation and water supply have been shown to control disease burden. Universal access to improved water sources and basic sanitation remains elusive but is an important long-term goal. Studies have shown that improving the microbiological quality o...

There is no common understanding of the minimum per capita fresh water requirement for human health and economic and social development. Existing estimates vary between 20 and 4,654 l/c/d, however, these estimates are methodologically problematic as they consider only human consumptive and hygiene needs, or they consider economic needs but not the effects of trade. Reconsidering the components ...

Water & Sanitation scenario in Rajasthan state of India is quite alarming. This state can be improved with joint efforts of community and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs). An international NGO named “Save the Children” is working on this subject since 2009 to educate local villagers about water borne diseases and hygiene practices along with providing them with pure drinking water and const...

BACKGROUND We conducted a cluster-randomized water, sanitation, and hygiene trial in 185 schools in Nyanza province, Kenya. The trial, however, had imperfect school-level adherence at many schools. The primary goal of this study was to estimate the causal effects of school-level adherence to interventions on pupil diarrhea and soil-transmitted helminth infection. METHODS Schools were divided ...

The impact of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access on mitigating illness is well documented, although impact of school-based WASH on school-aged children has not been rigorously explored. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in Nyanza Province, Kenya to assess the impact of a school-based WASH intervention on diarrhoeal disease in primary-school pupils. Two study populations...

The main objective of this study was assessing the level of sanitation and hygiene information and identifying factors that determine its access and utilization by rural households in Alaba District, Southern Ethiopia. The study generated the required data from 162 respondents selected from four rural ‘kebeles’/villages using multistage sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data...

Editorials 210 In March 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released a report 1 on the status of water and sanitation in health-care facilities from 54 low-and middle-income countries. Data representing 66 000 health facilities show that water was not readily available in about 40%. 1 Over a third of facilities lacked soap for hand washing a...

About 3ie The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) works to improve the lives of people in the developing world by supporting the production and use of evidence on what works, when, why and for how much. 3ie is a new initiative that responds to demands for better evidence, and will enhance development effectiveness by promoting better informed policies. 3ie finances high-quality...

BACKGROUND Oral care may decrease the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and improve oral hygiene. However, little evidence is available to guide the development of oral care protocols. The practical effect of toothbrushing on VAP development and oral health and hygiene improvement is inconclusive. PURPOSE This study evaluated the effects in postneurosurgical, intensive care...

BACKGROUND It is thought that improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) might reduce the transmission of schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths, owing to their life cycles. However, few large-scale studies have yet assessed the real extent of associations between WASH and these parasites. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In the 2013-2014 Ethiopian national mapping of infections with ...