The Impact of a School-based WASH Intervention on Child Health and School Attendance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

This study aims to assess the effects of school-based, comprehensive water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements on child health and educational outcomes in schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Eligible schools will be randomly allocated to intervention or control groups. Data on pupil absence and illness will be collected longitudinally from students in selected classrooms in each school over the course of one academic year (2021/2022). This study will also assess the effects of the intervention on kindergarten students through parent interviews.

Conditions

• Diarrhea
• Respiratory Tract Infections
• Absenteeism

Interventions

OTHER

Splash WASH in Schools programme (Project WISE)

The Project WISE intervention includes: WASH infrastructure * Water storage tanks and water filtration systems * Durable plastic drinking water and handwashing stations * New/rehabilitated toilet facilities (gender-segregated, wheelchair-accessible, well-lit, ventilated, durable door and lock) Behaviour change promotion * Training of focal teachers to organise student 'hygiene club' * Annual soap drive and soap restocking * Behavioural 'nudges' (posters and mirrors at handwashing stations, colourful vests for hygiene clubs) MHM services * Toilets have water tap, bucket and waste bin * Emergency menstrual hygiene products available at school * Training of focal teachers to organise student 'gender club' * Education on puberty and menstruation for all pupils above 10 and parent resource guide

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Children's Investment Fund Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Splash

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Robert Dreibelbis, PhD · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Oliver Cumming, MSc · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Elizabeth Allen, PhD · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Baptiste Leurent, PhD · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Sarah Bick, MSc · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Alem Ezezew · Holster International Research & Development Consultancy

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

4 Years

Max Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-11-02

Primary Completion

2022-07-01

Completion

2022-08-10

Countries

• Ethiopia

Study Locations