Exploring the Capabilities, Motivations and Opportunities for Handwashing with Soap in the Low-Income Settlements of Mombasa, Kenya

Low-income areas face numerous challenges that hinder the practice of Handwashing with soap (HWWS). These challenges include limited financial resources, forgetfulness to purchase or use soap for handwashing, insufficient water and soap, and perceptions and beliefs that there are no health risks associated with inadequate hand hygiene 1 – 3. Yet, handwashing with soap remains a crucial preventive measure against the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrhoea.

This learning brief summarises findings from a larger study aimed at assessing the effect of community interventions on improving handwashing with soap. It builds upon a previous quantitative study that examined the determinants of access to basic handwashing facilities and of proper handwashing with soap in low-income areas across four main cities in Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu. The findings from this quantitative study revealed that residents from Mombasa were less likely to have basic handwashing facilities and to wash their hands with soap compared to residents in low-income areas of other cities in Kenya. The study recommended further qualitative study to explore the contextual factors that hinder access to handwashing facilities and handwashing with soap behaviour.

This brief thus, summarises the barriers and enablers of handwashing with soap in the low-income settlements of Mombasa County, Kenya using the Capability- Opportunity-Motivation for Behaviour (COM-B) framework and additionally proposes intervention strategies for improving handwashing with soap in these communities.