Post-Intervention Rapid Assessment of Behavior-Change Communication and Sanitation Market Development in Hòa Bình Province

Project Overview

• Field: Environmental Health & Climate Change
• Duration: 02 - 03/2016
• Funder: WB
• Implementing agency: Center for Environmental and Health Studies (CEHS)
• Location: 9 communes in Kim Bôi and Mai Châu districts, Hòa Bình province

Introduction

The project assessed the effectiveness of behavior-change communication (BCC) activities and sanitation supply chain development under the National Target Program on Rural Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation.

The study focused on the extent of improvement in access to and use of hygienic latrines, the effectiveness of the communication model and sanitation convenience shop (CHTI) development, and analyzed enabling factors, barriers and scalability in mountainous, ethnic minority areas.

CEHS's Role

CEHS led the program's final evaluation, responsible for developing the research methodology, designing the survey toolkit, conducting quantitative and qualitative surveys, analyzing data, and assessing the effectiveness of behavior-change communication activities and the sanitation market development model.

Key Activities

• Reviewing program documents and data before and after the intervention.
• Conducting a quantitative survey of 801 households in the 9 intervention communes.
• Conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with health sector leaders, health workers, communicators, sanitation shop owners, masons and residents.
• Assessing the effectiveness of behavior-change communication, the operation of the sanitation convenience shop (CHTI) network, and the sanitation product supply chain.
• Analyzing enabling factors, challenges, sustainability and scalability of the model.

Key Results

• The survey of 801 households and the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions provided comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness of the communication and sanitation market development model in the 9 intervention communes.
• 72% of households had accessed sanitation information in 2015; communication reached both poor households and ethnic minority groups.
• The rate of hygienic latrine coverage in the 9 communes increased significantly from baseline, with improvement across all income and ethnic groups.
• The BCC model combined with CHTI network development created clear demand for the sanitation market, particularly in Bình Sơn, Vĩnh Tiến and Bao La communes.
• CEHS proposed adjusting the intervention model according to three latrine coverage levels (below 35%; 35–65%; above 65%), and recommended strengthening communicator training and developing financial support mechanisms.