Programmatic Implications for Promotion of Handwashing Behaviour in an IDP camp in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

Diarrhea and acute respiratory infections (ARI) account for 30% of deaths among children displaced due to humanitarian emergencies. A wealth of evidence demonstrates that handwashing with soap prevents both diarrhea and ARI. While socially- and emotionally-driven factors are proven motivators to handwashing in non- emergency situations, little is known about determinants of handwashing behavior in emergency settings.

This article presents the findings of research done in the DRC; the reseach was a qualitative investigation, run from June to August 2015, in a camp for internally displaced persons with a population of 6360 in the war-torn eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The researchers talked with non-governmental organizations and camp officials, mothers of children < 5 years, and other camp residents about hygiene promoters to identify motivators and barriers to handwashing.