Hygiene promotion Diarrhea causes approximately 1.6 million deaths each year. Out of these, 90% is among children under the age of five. These deaths represent approximately 15% of all child deaths under the age of five in developing countries. In low and middle income countries, diarrheal diseases rank third after perinatal conditions and lower respiratory illnesses as the top cause of death in children under 14 years age. An effective hygiene promotion program can reduce the main risky hygiene practices and conditions for children, women, and men. For example, the simple act of washing hands with soap at key times such as after going to the toilet can reduce diarrhoeal incidence by nearly half. In this Guide hygiene promotion is defined as the processes to promote changes in behavior to reduce the spread of sanitation-related diseases, e.g. washing hands with soap at critical times, and safe management of children’s feces. | Broadly speaking, hygiene promotion focuses on changing personal behavior. Both are essential to maximize the benefits of investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene; whereas sanitation promotion focuses on stimulating demand for, use of, and the efficient supply of, the physical goods required for safe management of excreta. |
| Sanitation promotion While hygiene promotion seeks to change behavior concerning personal hygiene, sanitation promotion is designed to stimulate household demand for and efficient supply of the sanitation hardware necessary to maintain a healthy environment: latrines, toilets, sewer connections, etc. “Demand” here means more than just “desire”; it reflects that desire through a “willingness to pay” towards the cost of the infrastructure. Issues around subsidies are discussed in the section of the Guide addressing financing sanitation. |
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