Understanding the mechanisms that trigger behaviour change to overcome risky hygiene is critical to improving family health. Research in an integrated health promotion programme in 382 Community Health Clubs (CHCs) in three districts of Zimbabwe showed clearly the value members attached to gaining ‘knowledge’, which was their strongest motivation for joining CHCs. In these rural areas, where only 38% had completed primary school, randomly sampled CHCs ranked the ‘Need for Knowledge’ second highest after ‘Safety’. A survey of 880 CHC members showed that an average of 80% of CHC members who had ‘full knowledge of diarrhoea’, also practised ten recommended hygiene practices (P > 0.001), compared to 17% who had ‘some knowledge’, and 6% who had safe hygiene, but ‘no knowledge’. In the control group only 50% with ‘full knowledge’ of diarrhoea, also practised safe hygiene, 30% fewer than the CHCs. Therefore, thorough training is needed to ensure a critical mass have ‘full knowledge’. This justifies the CHC Model with 24 weekly sessions reinforcing key messages over a six month period. Positive peer pressure through shared knowledge, understanding and experience, combines to change group values ensuring that even uninformed individuals adopt safe hygiene practices through the adoption of a ‘Culture of Health’.
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Research Article|
June 01 2013
Creating a culture of health: hygiene behaviour change in community health clubs through knowledge and positive peer pressure
Juliet Anne Waterkeyn;
1Africa AHEAD, 95 Dorries Drive, Simons Town, Cape Town, Western Cape 7075, South Africa
E-mail: [email protected]
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Anthony James Waterkeyn
Anthony James Waterkeyn
1Africa AHEAD, 95 Dorries Drive, Simons Town, Cape Town, Western Cape 7075, South Africa
Search for other works by this author on:
Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development (2013) 3 (2): 144–155.
Article history
Received:
November 18 2011
Accepted:
May 29 2012
Citation
Juliet Anne Waterkeyn, Anthony James Waterkeyn; Creating a culture of health: hygiene behaviour change in community health clubs through knowledge and positive peer pressure. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 1 June 2013; 3 (2): 144–155. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2013.109
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