WASH Baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Evaluation

The project was funded by USAID/OFDA via IMA World Health and implemented by Tearfund in collaboration with other actors. The survey was conducted in 18 Health Areas in Beni Health Zone, targeting both residents and internally displaced persons (IDPs). A total of 515 households were sampled, with 60% of respondents being female and over 80% identifying as heads of household. The average number of household members was 6 people per household. The survey found that most households (89%) get their drinking water from an unprotected water point or spring, with only 11% accessing protected water points. The majority of the population (77%) walks more than 500m to reach the water point, which is above the Sphere standards for emergencies. This poses a significant challenge for the population of Beni. In terms of water quality, the survey found that 40 households (7%) have a water point on site, but this does not necessarily mean that the water is protected. The survey also collected qualitative data through focus groups and school visits, which provided additional insights into the community's WASH practices and challenges. The survey's findings have implications for the implementation of WASH interventions in Beni Town, particularly in terms of improving access to safe and protected water sources. The results will inform the development of a WASH program that addresses the specific needs and challenges of the community, with a focus on strengthening community prevention, response, and recovery efforts in the context of EVD. The survey's methodology involved training and deploying 72 data collectors from the 18 health areas, who used the Kobo Collect Tools application to collect data from 515 households. The data was analyzed using PivotTables in Excel for quantitative data and qualitative data analysis included transcription, coding, interpretation, and theory building. The survey's limitations include issues of insecurity, which prevented the Tearfund staff from visiting all the villages in which the surveys were conducted. However, the communities accepted the data collectors despite the stress they underwent, and the survey was able to collect valuable data on the community's WASH practices and challenges. Overall, the WASH Baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Evaluation project in Beni Town provides a critical baseline assessment of the community's WASH practices and challenges, which will inform the development of effective WASH interventions in the context of EVD.