Perinatal Handwashing Promotion for Improved Maternal Handwashing Behaviour
Globally, an estimated seven million children die every year, with pneumonia and diarrhea as the two leading causes of mortality. While the health benefits of hand washing with soap are proven and significant—decreasing the prevalence of pneumonia and diarrhea by up to 50% in low-income settings—only a minority of people wash their hands at times relevant to pathogen transmission.
Title: Development and Evaluation of Perinatal Handwashing Promotion for Improved Maternal Handwashing Behaviour
Principal Investigator: Pavani Kalluri Ram, MD
Funding Agency: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (icddr,b)
Period: 10/01/11 - 08/31/13
Abstract: Through her research, Pavani Ram, MD, aims to advance public health by improving child survival in resource-poor settings. Globally, an estimated seven million children die every year, with pneumonia and diarrhea as the two leading causes of mortality. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable. Ram said that while the health benefits of hand washing with soap are proven and significant—decreasing the prevalence of pneumonia and diarrhea by up to 50% in low-income settings—only a minority of people wash their hands at times relevant to pathogen transmission.
Ram will develop the study design; guide development of the intervention, consent forms and data collection tools; oversee data analysis and interpret the findings in the context of global health.
