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

Status

UNKNOWN

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02968251

Enrollment

360

Registered

2016-11-18

Start date

2016-10-31

Completion date

2017-07-31

Last updated

2017-05-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

School-based, Hand-washing, Program, Malawi

Brief summary

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.

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.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALHand 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.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

5 Years to 12 Years

Healthy volunteers

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.

Design outcomes

Primary

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

Secondary

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

Countries

Malawi

Contacts

Primary ContactBalwani M Chingatichifwe, MPH

balwani-mbakaya.chingatichifwe@connect.polyu.hk+265 888 159 286

Backup ContactRegina Lee, PhD

regina.Lee@polyu.edu.hk(852) 2766 6388

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026