Checklist for the Development of Life Skills-based Hygiene Education
Issues / Considerations
Identify risk practices of the
different groups / Which specific risk practices need to be addressed in a hygiene, sanitation, and water in schools program?
The most important practices must be identified based on local conditions in the schools and the community, but in any case should include methods of human excreta disposal; hand washing, especially with soap, clay, or mud; choices about drinking water sources; and methods used for anal cleansing and for the disposal of anal cleansing materials.
Define target audiences /
  • Which and how many students employ the risk practices?
  • Who motivates or constrains the primary audience (students) to change their hygiene behavior?
  • Who comprise the secondary audience that will support behavior change among the primary audience? Who comprise the tertiary audience that will support the hygiene, sanitation, and water in schools program to ensure its sustainability?

Select practices for intervention
Determine message and channels
for communication /
  • Which risk practices are most widespread and have the largest impact on public health?
  • For which risk practices can change be motivated?
  • What motivates those who currently use “safe” practices?
  • What are the perceived advantages of “safe” practices?
  • What are the most efficient ways to get messages across?

Select teaching methods to reach
and communicate with the
different target audiences /
  • What teaching methods are currently used for communication?
  • What teaching methods are most appropriate for such messages?
  • Who will teach the hygiene promotion program? If existing teachers, are incentives are provided for the additional work load?

Determine training and other
support needs to provide support
for implementation /
  • Determine training needs and design training program
  • Identify any other required support materials and tools and determine how to produce and pay for them

Determine how the effectiveness of the hygiene promotion program will be measured /
  • What needs to be monitored in the short, medium, and long term?
  • Who is in charge of monitoring and evaluation (M&E)?
Short-term results can be measured through classroom assessments. Long-term effects will become evident if reliable health statistics are available. However, impacts will only begin to show up after a critical mass of behavior change has been achieved for a sufficient period of time.