Trials / Completed
CompletedNCT04269824
The Norms and Networks Sanitation Study in India in Tamil Nadu, India
The Longitudinal Evaluation of Norms and Networks Study: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Exclusive Toilet Use in Tamil Nadu, India
- Status
- Completed
- Phase
- N/A
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 22,700 (actual)
- Sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania · Academic / Other
- Sex
- All
- Age
- 18 Years
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
Summary
The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of a multi-level behavior change intervention designed to promote toilet construction, exclusive toilet use and maintenance in peri-urban communities of Tamil Nadu. The intervention leverages two years of formative research and reflects a norms and network-centric approach that will employ dynamic information dissemination to signal others' sanitation practices while also addressing other barriers to the adoption of improved sanitation practices. The study will determine whether those who received the interventions had significant improvements in toilet usage compared to those who did not. Qualitative research will help assess exposure and reactions to the intervention in these communities.
Detailed description
The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of a multi-level behavior change intervention designed to promote toilet construction, exclusive toilet use and maintenance in peri-urban communities of Tamil Nadu. The intervention leverages two years of formative research and reflects a norms and network-centric approach that will employ dynamic information dissemination to signal others' sanitation practices while also addressing other barriers to the adoption of improved sanitation practices. The study will determine whether those who received the interventions had significant improvements in toilet usage compared to those who did not. For this cluster-randomized trial, communities will be engaged in two rounds of surveys to assess toilet ownership, toilet usage practices of their family members and include additional questions about beliefs, norms and other factors influencing toilet use. Investigators will also conduct a process evaluation to monitor change from baseline to endline and identify successful pathways of or bottle-necks to the adoption of improved sanitation behaviors. These indicators will include fidelity indicators to assess the quality of intervention delivery, level of community participation, behavioral antecedents, contextual changes in community and household conditions that may facilitate improved behavioral adoption and/or outcomes (e.g., exclusive toilet use). They will also conduct qualitative research using observations and semi-structured interviews with respondents and stakeholders to assess exposure and reactions to the intervention. They will also assess spillover in the control wards using mixed-method assessment tools.
Conditions
Interventions
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BEHAVIORAL | Behavioral intervention package | Community mobilization and commitment events * Update factual beliefs * Establish public commitment * Update empirical expectations about toilet use Audio announcements - Disseminate norms-related messages regarding toilet use and ownership Group level \- Facilitated sex-segregated group meetings to share information and action knowledge through increased social connections Network-level social media messages - Transmit norms-related messages, and testimonials of adopters through influential social network members Household-level Counseling visits * Update empirical expectations of improved sanitation behaviors in their community * Motivate improved sanitation practices * Build capacity to achieve exclusive toilet use Stickers/decals \- Signal adoption of promoted behaviors to community members Individual-level * Update empirical expectations of improved behaviors among similar others * Set goals, track progress and maintain improved behavior |
Timeline
- Start date
- 2020-01-05
- Primary completion
- 2021-09-05
- Completion
- 2021-10-22
- First posted
- 2020-02-17
- Last updated
- 2021-11-26
Locations
1 site across 1 country: India
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT04269824. Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement.