Myth vs. Reality: In Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion

Sanitation and hygiene behaviour are not predictable like pipes and pumps. They have earnedthemselves the reputation of being the slow-moving and difficult components of water and sanitation programs. They are known to be essential for health impact, yet no one seems to have fail-proof formulas to make them work.

A number of myths have germinated and grown into the gaps that exist in sector knowledge about how to do sanitation and hygiene program right. Myths probably born of failures to see things from a perspective other than our own. Looking through the eyes of poor rural communities, some insights emerge as self-evident.

This field note presents some ground realities to challenges the myths. These were encountered during participatory research carried out during 1997-1999 by WSP-EAP in 40 communities served by five large-scale rural water supply and sanitation projects in Indonesia.