Motivating school communities towards behaviour change and local ownership: a gamification intervention to prevent trachoma at primary schools in southern Ethiopia

Summary

The aim of this study was to examine whether gamification among schoolchildren and the promotion of local ownership of school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is associated with healthy behaviours and WASH infrastructure improvements. The study was conducted in 223 rural schools in Ethiopia.

At baseline, students were observed washing their hands after using latrines in 23 (10.3%) schools. This increased to 132 (59%) schools (p≤0.001) at follow-up. Motivational strategies such as gamification among schoolchildren and the promotion of local ownership of school WASH may be associated with healthy behaviours and WASH infrastructure improvements.