The Impact of the Sisimpur Hygiene Media Intervention Among Children From Bangladesh’s Tea Estates

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session III
  In Interactive Paper Session: Children, Adolescents, and the Media Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Sisimpur, the Sesame Street of Bangladesh, developed a ten-week intervention to address hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among children ages 3 to 8 years in the resource poor area of Sylhet (known as the tea estates region). Two hundred forty children and one of their parents/guardians completed extensive one-on-one interviews before and after an intervention. Participants recalled the produced materials (including Raya, a newly-introduced Muppet® who stresses latrine use, hand-washing, and sandal-wearing); however, intervention variations (one focused on personal objectives, the other on social objectives) were not detected. Results show that those exposed to either intervention, compared to those not exposed to the Sisimpur material, significantly improved across sanitation and hygiene variables. This intervention was successful, suggesting that media can impact children’s healthy development, even in a locale lacking access to even basic resources.

Author

• Dina L. G. Borzekowski, U of Maryland