HALIRAS Behavior Change Communication Baseline Data Report

The Water for Women project HALIRAS completed its formative research for the behaviour change communication intervention in Liquiçá and Manufahi in January 2024. The formative research findings highlighted that maintaining hygienic suco status requires continuous reinforcement of behaviour change communication otherwise the risk of behaviours reverting back to open defecation is likely. Open defecation contaminates the environment and causes health problems and diseases, particularly affecting women and children. The key challenges of the sanitation and hygiene gaps include:
• Low rates of compliance.
• Poor hygienic condition of household toilets.
• Unavailability of hand washing facilities near toilets.
• Unsafe handling and disposal of children's faeces.