The effect of a large‐scale water, sanitation and hygiene intervention in Bangladesh on knowledge, behaviour and health: Findings from an endline programme evaluation

OBJECTIVES: The Sanitation, Hygiene Education and Water Supply in Bangladesh Programme (SHEWA‐B) was a 5‐year intervention aiming to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices among 20 million rural residents through community hygiene promoters. This analysis evaluates the impact of SHEWA‐B on knowledge, behaviour and childhood diarrhoea outcomes. METHODS: The evaluation included repeated cross‐sectional surveys and health surveillance in matched cohorts in intervention and control clusters. Cross‐sectional surveys and structured observations at baseline, midline, and endline assessed the availability of WASH technology, caregiver knowledge and behaviour. Fieldworkers collected monthly health data in a subset of control and intervention households to determine the prevalence of diarrhoea. RESULTS: Of 5091 households surveyed, participants residing in intervention clusters showed minimal improvements in knowledge, reported behaviour, or use of WASH technology compared to the control clusters. During structured observations, intervention households increased more than control households at handwashing before preparing food and after cleaning a baby's anus when comparing endline to baseline, but these changes were not seen when comparing endline to the midline. The prevalence of childhood diarrhoea remained similar in both groups before (10.2% in intervention, 10.0% in control) and after (8.8% in intervention, 11.7% in control) midline changes were made to improve the intervention. Intervention clusters showed no improvement in diarrhoea over time compared to control clusters. CONCLUSIONS: SHEWA‐B's community‐based WASH promotion did not yield the intended impact on knowledge, behaviour or health. Greater priority should be given to approaches that have demonstrated effectiveness. Including rigorous evaluations would broaden the evidence base to support and improve large‐scale programmes.