Abstract
Abstract Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) research has long relied on household surveys to gather knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) data with local enumerators or community correspondents (CCs). However, CCs must be trained to build capacity and ensure representative survey responses. Here, we use a case study in low-income, informal communities from New Delhi, India to assess the value of structured training for individuals who lead the gathering of KAP data (CC leaders, CCLs) on WaSH and antibiotic resistance. Feedback from CCLs showed that directed training increased their motivation, confidence, and technical competence and provided them skills that enhanced data collection. Training further strengthened relationships and empowered our local community-based organisation (CBO), expanding their role beyond being an implementing partner. Empowerment led to new insights, such as evident problems with communications between local doctors and community dwellers. Only three of 38 focus group attendees knew what an antibiotic was, apparently because they were never told. Overall, this work shows that interviewer training has many trickle-down benefits, improving the quality of data, building confidence in field teams, and empowering local CBOs, but most importantly, by increasing knowledge among community dwellers, such that they also might be empowered.
Highlights
Training is an essential component of all community-based water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) surveys (Standing & Chowdhury )
The goal was to co-develop approaches with a local community-based organisation (CBO), the Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE), to promote knowledge and awareness of the consequences of antibiotic use among local populations to encourage practices that might reduce antibiotic resistance in the communities
Antibiotic resistance is a product of accelerated bacterial evolution due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics, which is especially problematic in developing countries (Graham et al a)
Summary
Training is an essential component of all community-based water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) surveys (Standing & Chowdhury ). Interviewer training is vital because it improves their understanding of the survey’s objectives and terminology and allows them to make wiser decisions about who is included in or excluded from a survey, which can increase response rates and data value from F2F interviews (Durrant et al ; Brick : 24). This is crucial for the statistical interpretation of results. Training is especially important here to ensure clear communications and gather representative data of high quality Within this context, the goal was to co-develop approaches with a local CBO, the Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE), to promote knowledge and awareness of the. They were able to gain deeper KAP insights that would not have been possible without specific training
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have