Alliance model for increasing access to sanitation and improving hygienic practices in rural community of Dhading Distict, Nepal.

Thesis Report.

ABSTRACT: Poor access to sanitation and poor hygienic practices are important global health issues and are also in Nepal. Action research with one group pre-post test design was conducted in Thankre Village Development Committee of Dhading District, Nepal. The study applied the alliance model to manage the sanitation and hygiene program and thereby to increase access to sanitation and to improve basic knowledge on sanitation and hygiene and hygienic practices of household members. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure management capacity among 18 alliance members, before and after 6 months and a closed-ended interview questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to measure access to sanitation, basic knowledge on sanitation and hygiene, hygienic practices and the prevalence of diarrhea among 492 household respondents before and after 6 months, and 9 months of implementing the model. Dialogue was conducted using a guideline with both study groups to get qualitative data after nine months. Paired t-test was used to compare management capacity; Friedman's Test was used to compare access to sanitation, basic knowledge on sanitation and hygiene and hygienic practices. Prevalence of diarrhea was analyzed using Chi-square test. After six months of implementing the alliance model, overall management capacity of the alliance members was significantly (p<0.001) better than before. Access to sanitation, basic knowledge on sanitation and hygiene and hygienic practices after implementing the alliance model increased significantly (p<0.001) compared to before. Prevalence of diarrhea significantly decreased (p<0.05) after implementing the alliance model. It is suggested that the alliance model be implemented to improve effectiveness of the rural sanitation and hygiene program. KEY WORDS: ALLIANCE MODEL/ MANAGEMENT CAPACITY/ACCESS TO SANITATION/KNOWLEDGE/HYGIENIC PRACTICES/RURAL COMMUNITIES

Eng.