Unpacking WASH Behaviours among Mothers: Analyzing Knowledge and Practices
Access to clean drinking water, basic sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices are fundamental for their health and overall development. As primary caregivers, mothers play a critical role in ensuring these components are accessible and implemented effectively. In this context, this study assesses the mothers’ awareness and practices related to water, sanitation, and hygien (WASH). This study only focused on mothers of children who are under five in age. The study mainly emphasizes uncovering discrepancies between the awareness and actual practices.
The findings reveal a significant disparity between knowledge and practice, particularly regarding water purification methods, which are often not implemented despite awareness. Most mothers relied on traditional practices, with boiling being preferred among those who purified water. Sanitation practices were generally commendable, as all households had toilets and maintained a higher standard of cleanliness than anticipated. Additionally, there was a strong recognition of the importance of proper disposal of child feces and regular hand washing with soap, particularly after cleaning feces. However, practices like hand washing at critical times, such as before feeding, were not consistently aligned with the level of knowledge.
Keywords: WASH, water treatment, hand washing, sanitation
