Only one in four rural Cambodians practice appropriate hand washing regardless of access to clean water and hygiene knowledge, according to a recent study [1] presented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) at a World Federation of Public Health Associations/American Public Health Association (WFPHA/APHA) meeting in San Diego, California. Dr. Leonard Uisetiawan, provincial projects advisor for the ADRA office in Phnom Penh, discussed the perception and hand washing practices among rural Cambodians. In addition, less than 6 percent of child caretakers properly washed their hands after changing a child’s soiled diaper or after defecation.

This research, funded by Colgate-Palmolive [2] through the American Public Health Association, also highlighted that the practice of hand washing in Cambodian homes is not dependent on the availability of soap, water, buckets, accessibility to hand washing areas, household size, amount of children, mother’s vocation, or educational level. ADRA's Hand Washing Research Project has been conducted over the past year as part of "Phum Mittapheap Koma", a three-year initiative aimed at improving rural health and reducing morbidity and mortality among more than 22,500 women and 17,400 children in the Kampong Thom province.

[1] Uisetiawan, L. (2008). Handwashing perception and practices among Cambodian rural poor. Powerpoint presentation

[2] For related studies in Nicaragua and Kenya see WASH Research News, 02 Jan 2009

Related web site: Health in Your Hands: Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap

Contact: Leonard Uisetiawan, Project Health Advisor, ADRA Cambodia, leonardu@adracambodia.org

Source: ADRA, 31 Dec 2008

Tags: east asia & pacific, hygiene promotion, monitoring & evaluation