Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Childhood diarrhoeal diseases remain among the leading preventable causes of illness and death in low- and middle-income countries, largely due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices within households. Evidence consistently demonstrates that simple hygiene-related interventions particularly handwashing with soap and safe water handling significantly reduce the risk of diarrhoeal infections among children under five. However, many communities continue to face barriers such as limited access to soap, unsafe water storage, and insufficient behavioural reinforcement, resulting in poor adherence to recommended hygiene practices. To address these gaps, this research evaluates the effectiveness of distributing simple home-based hygiene kits by community nurses as a preventive measure against childhood diarrhoeal episodes.
The hygiene kits included soap bars, a narrow-mouthed water-storage container, a pictorial instruction leaflet detailing critical handwashing moments, and a demonstration session on hygienic practices delivered by trained community nurses. A community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted over a 12-month follow-up period among households with children under five. The intervention group received the hygiene kits along with periodic nurse-led reinforcement visits, whereas the control group continued to receive standard community health services without additional hygiene support.
Results demonstrate a marked reduction in the incidence of diarrhoeal episodes among children in the intervention group, with an approximate 40% decrease in reported cases compared with the control group. Furthermore, households receiving the kits displayed significantly improved compliance with handwashing at critical times, safer water-handling behaviour, and reduced clinic visits related to diarrhoeal illness. Data also suggest that the presence of community nurses played a pivotal role in sustaining the adoption of hygiene practices by fostering trust, providing ongoing motivation, and offering culturally appropriate guidance tailored to household needs.
This research concludes that simple, low-cost home-based hygiene kits, when distributed and reinforced by community nurses, significantly reduce childhood diarrhoeal morbidity. The intervention is practical, scalable, and suitable for integration into existing community health strategies, particularly in resource-constrained settings where diarrhoeal disease remains a persistent public-health burden. These findings provide strong evidence for policymakers, public-health planners, and community-based programs seeking effective, sustainable solutions to combat diarrhoeal diseases in vulnerable populations.