Research Components

Objectives

Health care facilities in developing countries often lack the funds to invest in capital infrastructures, the maintenance of existing facilities and supporting ongoing operations. Operational elements, such as a good portable water supply, appropriate cleaning, waste management and standard toilet facilities, for better hygiene at heath care units are often overlooked. 

With the current emergence and resurgence of several infectious diseases, there is a need to assess and document the current situation of WASH facilities and practices at health care units. This study will:

• Provide baseline information on WASH facilities 

• Identify existing gaps and prompt new studies and interventions for the improvement of WASH conditions at health care units 

• Contribute to the reduction of nosocomial infections transmission in health care environments and the reduction of vector-breeding in and around health care premises to the improvement of primary care quality

The following methods of data collection will be used:

• Direct observation

• In-depth interviews

• Focus group discussions

• Quantitative survey of health providers and most frequent users of health facilities

Information on WASH facilities and practices will be sampled in all 4 project countries. In each country, existing WASH practices in health care units will be mapped out. These maps will guide future WASH studies and interventions in each country.