Designing and Evaluating a School-based Hand Washing Program in Malawi

The aim of the study is to design and evaluate a school-based hand washing program for children in Malawi, Sub-Saharan Africa, using a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT), so as to improve proper hand washing, increase knowledge level and also reduce school absenteeism.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: School-based, Hand-washing, Program, Malawi
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Hand Washing Program (HWP)

Detailed Description

A cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design with pre-, mid- and post-interventions and follow-up measures will be randomized into intervention or control groups. A simplified 5-steps hand washing program will be implemented in the intervention group while the control group will continue with their usual practice where schoolchildren do not follow any standard recommended handwashing technique.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 360
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Balwani M Chingatichifwe, MPH; Phone Number: +265 888 159 286; Email: balwani-mbakaya.chingatichifwe@connect.polyu.hk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Regina Lee, PhD; Phone Number: (852) 2766 6388; Email: regina.Lee@polyu.edu.hk

Study Locations

• Malawi
  • Northern
    • Mzuzu, Northern, Malawi, 00000
      • Recruiting
      • St John's College of Nursing and Midwifery
      • Contact: Regina Lee, PhD; Phone Number: (852) 2766 6388; Email: regina.Lee@polyu.edu.hk
      • Contact: Balwani M Chingatichifwe, MPH; Phone Number: (265) 888 159 286; Email: balwani-mbakaya.chingatichifwe@connect.polyu.hk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 years to 12 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Schools that have piped tap water source situated in Mzuzu City,
• Private primary schools,
• Children in elementary one and six,
• Written parental consent allowing their child to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Schools without piped tap water source,
• Government primary schools,
• Children whose parents will not give consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hand Washing Program (HWP); Clusters in this arm will be given a Hand Washing Program (HWP) which will consist of: integrating hand washing practice in the school health policy, setting up proper hand washing facilities in the intervention schools, training to school teachers, delivering of health talk to schoolchildren and their parents, developing reminders and posters of a simplified 5-step hand washing technique, peer briefing session, take home package (5-steps hand washing, commitment letter, poster, leaflet). The program will be delivered once every week.	Behavioral: Hand Washing Program (HWP); HWP consists of integrating hand washing practice in the school health policy, setting up proper hand washing facilities in the intervention schools, training to school teachers, delivering of health talk to schoolchildren and their parents, developing reminders and posters of a simplified 5-step hand washing technique, peer briefing session, take home package (5-steps hand washing, commitment letter, poster, leaflet). The program will be delivered once every week.
No Intervention: No Hand Washing Program (NHWP); Clusters in this arm will be allowed to continue with their usual practice regarding hand washing/hygiene

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proper hand washing	This will be achieved by giving a score to the amount of fluorescents stain on the hand.	9 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knowledge gain	A quiz will be administered to assess knowledge of school children.	9 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 11, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): November 18, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 9, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 8, 2017
• Last Verified: October 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: HSEARS20160619001