Reactivity and repeatability of hygiene behaviour: Structured observations from Burkina Faso.

Investigated the use of structured observations to measure hygiene behaviour in Burkina Faso. 200 mothers with young children (aged 2–36 mo) were observed on several occasions, with particular attention focused on events/behaviour surrounding defecation. Child defecation occurred most often in a potty (67% of occasions). Stools were most often disposed of into a latrine (79%). Following defecation the child's bottom was usually rinsed using water alone with a bare hand (76%). Subsequent hand washing by the mother/caretaker was much rarer (29%). None of these appeared "reactive" to the presence of the observer. Less common behaviours showed some evidence of reactivity. The frequency of child defecation in the yard increased over the course of 3 observations (5% to 16%) and the proportion of occasions on which the child was observed to be cleaned after defecation declined (95% to 85%). Mothers usually took with them to the latrine a water recipient (91%). Hand washing after leaving the latrine was observed on 30% of occasions. This proportion declined from 36% to 22% over 3 observations. Defecation by older siblings (aged 3–5 yrs) was usually into a potty (48%) or directly into a latrine (30%). There was no evidence that this behaviour was reactive.