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Handwashing behavior change at scale : evidence from a randomized evaluation in Vietnam

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  • Chase, Claire
  • Do, Quy-Toan

Abstract

Handwashing with soap, which has been shown to reduce diarrhea in young children by as much as 48 percent, is frequently mentioned as one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to save children's lives. Yet rates of handwashing remain very low throughout the world. Handwashing with soap campaigns are de rigueur in developing countries, but little is known about their effectiveness. Few have been rigorously evaluated, and none on a large-scale. This paper evaluates a large-scale handwashing campaign in three provinces of Vietnam in 2010. Exposure to the campaign resulted in a slight increase in the availability of handwashing materials in the household, and caregivers in the treatment group were more likely to report washing hands at some of the times emphasized by the campaign. However, observed handwashing with soap at these times is low, and there isn't any difference between the treatment and control groups. As aresult, no impact on health or productivity is found. These results suggest that even under seemingly optimal conditions, where knowledge and access to soap and water are not main constraints, behavior change campaigns that take place on a large scale face tradeoffs in terms of intensity and effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Chase, Claire & Do, Quy-Toan, 2012. "Handwashing behavior change at scale : evidence from a randomized evaluation in Vietnam," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6207, The World Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cousens, Simon & Kanki, Bernadette & Toure, Seydou & Diallo, Ibrahim & Curtis, Valerie, 1996. "Reactivity and repeatability of hygiene behaviour: Structured observations from Burkina Faso," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 43(9), pages 1299-1308, November.
    2. Nguyen Viet Cuong & Tran Ngoc Truong & Roy Van Der Weide, 2010. "Poverty and Inequality Maps in Rural Vietnam: An Application of Small Area Estimation," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 24(4), pages 355-390, December.
    3. World Bank, 2008. "World Development Indicators 2008," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 11855, December.
    4. World Bank, 2008. "World Development Indicators 2008," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28241, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nguyen Viet, Cuong, 2014. "Impact Evaluation of Development Programmes and Policies: Experiences from Viet Nam," MPRA Paper 60919, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Friedrich, Max N.D. & Kappler, Andreas & Mosler, Hans-Joachim, 2018. "Enhancing handwashing frequency and technique of primary caregivers in Harare, Zimbabwe: A cluster-randomized controlled trial using behavioral and microbial outcomes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 66-76.
    3. Ann Elizabeth Flanagan & Jeffery Clark Tanner, 2016. "Evaluating Behavior Change in International Development Operations," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 25872, December.
    4. Reshmaan Hussam & Abu S. Shonchoy & Chikako Yamauchi & Kailash Pandey, 2021. "Translating Information into Action: A Public Health Experiment in Bangladesh," Working Papers 2127, Florida International University, Department of Economics.
    5. Rieckmann, Johannes, 2015. "Determinants of drinking water treatment and hygiene habits in provincial towns in Yemen," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113183, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Emmy De Buck & Hans Van Remoortel & Karin Hannes & Thashlin Govender & Selvan Naidoo & Bert Avau & Axel Vande Veegaete & Alfred Musekiwa & Vittoria Lutje & Margaret Cargo & Hans‐Joachim Mosler & Phili, 2017. "Approaches to promote handwashing and sanitation behaviour change in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a mixed method systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 1-447.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health Monitoring&Evaluation; Hygiene Promotion and Social Marketing; Food&Beverage Industry; Disease Control&Prevention; Population Policies;
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