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Your search keyword '"Astrid Hasund Thorseth"' showing total 3 results
Start Over Author "Astrid Hasund Thorseth" Topic medicine
3 results on '"Astrid Hasund Thorseth"'

1. Measuring the frequency and determinants of COVID-19 prevention behaviours: a cross-sectional assessment of large-scale programmes in seven countries, late 2020

Author

Robert Dreibelbis, Sian White, Sarah Bick, Astrid Hasund Thorseth, Max N D Friedrich, Ian Gavin, and Om Prasad Gautam

Subjects
Medicine
Abstract

Objectives This multicountry analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of key hygiene prevention behaviours and their determinants, associated with international non-governmental organisation (WaterAid) hygiene behaviour change programmes for COVID-19 prevention. The goal of this analysis is to inform future outbreak preparedness and pandemic response in low and middle-income countries.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Households in seven countries where WaterAid implemented a first-phase COVID-19 response programme in 2020 (Ethiopia, Ghana, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia).Participants 3033 adults (1469 men and 1564 women, alternately sampled from one household to the next to maintain gender balance) in specific programme areas (211 villages) surveyed between October and November 2020.Primary outcome measures Self-reported primary outcomes were: a composite measure of HWWS for prevention of respiratory infection/COVID-19 (total of 5 key moments); respondent increased HWWS behaviour after the COVID-19 pandemic; respondent always wears a mask in public spaces; respondent always practices physical distancing in public spaces.Results Most respondents (80%) reported increasing their handwashing behaviour after the pandemic, but practice of HWWS at COVID-19-specific prevention moments was low. Mask wearing (58%) and physical distancing (29%) varied substantially between countries. Determinants of key behaviours were identified, including age and socioeconomic status, perceived norms, self-regulation and the motive of protecting others. Incidence rate ratios or odds ratios and 95% CIs for a range of psychosocial determinants for each of the four primary outcomes are reported.Conclusions These findings highlight that leveraging behaviour-specific emotional drivers and norms, reducing common barriers and promoting targeted messages about specific behaviours and actions individuals can take to reduce risk are necessary to support large-scale behaviour change. Learning from the COVID-19 response to more effectively integrate novel behaviours into existing health promotion will be vital for disease prevention and outbreak resilience.

Published
2024
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3. An exploratory pilot study of the effect of modified hygiene kits on handwashing with soap among internally displaced persons in Ethiopia

Author

Tom Heath, Sian White, Astrid Hasund Thorseth, Andualem Sisay, and Mare Hamo

Subjects
Handwashing, medicine.medical_specialty, Health (social science), Conflict, SOAP, computer.internet_protocol, media_common.quotation_subject, Psychological intervention, Soap, Informal settlements, Hygiene, Environmental health, Medicine, Internally displaced persons, media_common, integumentary system, RC86-88.9, business.industry, Research, Public health, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health services research, Behaviour change, RC952-1245, Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid, Focus group, Special situations and conditions, Internally displaced person, Hygiene kit, Ethiopia, business, computer
Abstract

Background Internally displaced persons fleeing their homes due to conflict and drought are particularly at risk of morbidity and mortality from diarrhoeal diseases. Regular handwashing with soap (HWWS) could substantially reduce the risk of these infections, but the behaviour is challenging to practice while living in resource-poor, informal settlements. To mitigate these challenges, humanitarian aid organisations distribute hygiene kits, including soap and handwashing infrastructure. Our study aimed to assess the effect of modified hygiene kits on handwashing behaviours among internally displaced persons in Moyale, Ethiopia. Methods The pilot study evaluated three interventions: providing liquid soap; scented soap bar; and the inclusion of a mirror in addition to the standard hygiene kit. The hygiene kits were distributed to four study arms. Three of the arms received one of the interventions in addition to the standard hygiene kit. Three to six weeks after distribution the change in behaviour and perceptions of the interventions were assessed through structured observations, surveys and focus group discussions. Results HWWS was rare at critical times for all study arms. In the liquid soap arm, HWWS was observed for only 20% of critical times. This result was not indicated significantly different from the control arm which had a prevalence of 17% (p-value = 0.348). In the mirror and scented soap bar intervention arms, HWWS prevalence was 11 and 10%, respectively. This was indicated to be significantly different from the control arm. Participants in the focus group discussions indicated that liquid soap, scented soap bar and the mirror made handwashing more desirable. In contrast, participants did not consider the soap bar normally distributed in hygiene kits as nice to use. Conclusion We found no evidence of an increased prevalence of handwashing with soap following distribution of the three modified hygiene kits. However, our study indicates the value in better understanding hygiene product preferences as this may contribute to increased acceptability and use among crisis-affected populations. The challenges of doing research in a conflict-affected region had considerable implications on this study’s design and implementation. Trial registration The trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov 6 September 2019 (reg no: NCT04078633).

Published
2021
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