Effectiveness of community and school-based sanitation interventions in improving latrine coverage: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled interventions

INTRODUCTION@#Approximately 1000 children die each year due to preventable water and sanitation-related diarrheal diseases. Six in 10 people lacked access to safely managed sanitation facilities in 2015. Numerous community- and school-based approaches have been implemented to eradicate open defecation practices, promote latrine ownership, improve situation sanitation, and reduce waterborne disease.@*OBJECTIVE@#Given that current evidence for sanitation interventions seem promising, the aim of this study was to systematically summarize existing research on the effectiveness of community- and school-based randomized controlled sanitation intervention in improving (1) free open defecation (safe feces disposal), (2) latrine usage, (3) latrine coverage or access, and (4) improved latrine coverage or access.@*METHODS@#Eight electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, WHO Global Health Library (GHL), Virtual Health Library (VHL), POPLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar up to 26 April 2019. Original randomized clinical trials addressing community-based or school-based intervention that reported feces disposal and latrine coverage were deemed eligible. More than two researchers independently contributed to screening of papers, data extraction, and bias assessment. We conducted a meta-analysis by random-effects model. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool.@*RESULTS@#Eighteen papers that matched all criteria and 16 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Compared to the control, the sanitation intervention significantly increased safe feces disposal (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.51-3.19, p < 0.05, I@*CONCLUSION@#Our study showed strong evidence for both community- and school-based sanitation interventions as effective for the safe disposal of human excreta. The finding suggests major implications for health policy and design of future intervention in developing countries.

Infraestrutura e adesão à higienização das mãos: desafios à segurança do paciente / Infrastructure and adherence to hand hygiene: challenges to patient safety / Infraestructura y adhesión a la higienización de las manos: desafíos a la seguridad del paciente

Considerando a importância das mãos na cadeia de transmissão de microrganismos, esta pesquisa observacional investigou a infraestrutura material e a adesão à higienização das mãos em unidade de terapia intensiva do sul do Brasil, em 2010. Os dados foram coletados por observação direta não participante e emprego de instrumento autoaplicável a 39 profissionais, analisados com auxílio de Teste do χ², estatística descritiva e análise de discurso quantitativa. Embora os profissionais superestimem a adesão, reconheçam a prática como relevante para a prevenção de infecções e refiram não haver fatores de impedimento, entre 1277 oportunidades observadas, a adesão foi de 28,6%, e significativamente menor antes do contato e dos procedimentos assépticos do que após o contato com o paciente. A infraestrutura apresentou-se deficiente em funcionalidade. Os resultados implicam risco para a segurança dos pacientes, sendo relevante o planejamento de ações corretivas e que promovam essa prática.

Considering the importance of hands in the chain of transmission of microorganisms, this observational research investigated the material infrastructure and compliance of hand hygiene in an intensive care unit in the south of Brazil, in 2010. The data was collected by direct non-participant observation and through the use of self-administered questionnaires to be completed by the 39 participants, which was analyzed with the assistance of the χ² Test, descriptive statistics and quantitative discourse analysis. Although health professionals overestimate compliance rates, recognize the practice as relevant to the prevention of infection and refer there are no impeding factors, of the 1,277 opportunities observed, compliance was 26% and significantly lower before patient contact and the use of aseptic procedures than after patient contact: infrastructure was shown to be deficient. The results indicate risk to patient safety, and, thus, the planning of corrective actions to promote hand washing is relevant.

Con base en la importancia de las manos en la cadena de transmisión de microorganismos, esta investigación observacional tuvo el objetivo de observar la infraestructura material y la adhesión a la higienización de las manos en unidad de terapia intensiva del sur de Brasil, en 2010. Los datos fueron recogidos por la observación directa no participante y empleo de instrumento autoaplicable a 39 participantes, analizados con ayuda del Test de χ², estadística descriptiva y análisis de discurso cuantitativo. A pesar de que los profesionales sobrestimen la adhesión, reconocen la práctica como relevante para la prevención de infecciones y refieren no haber factores de impedimento. Entre 1277 oportunidades observadas, la adhesión fue del 28,6% y significativamente menor antes del contacto y procedimientos asépticos que después del contacto con el paciente; la infraestructura se ha presentado deficiente en funcionalidad. Los resultados revelan riesgo para la seguridad de los pacientes siendo relevante el planeamiento de acciones correctivas y que promuevan esa práctica.