This initial collection or research references, reports and resources has been started by the International School Health Network from a previous Canadian project. Visitors to and members of this wiki-based web site are welcome to add references (using the Easy Edit" tool found at the top of the page or commenting on the collection by using the "thread" tool found at the bottom of the page. (All previous versions of this page are automatically saved by the system, so don't hesitate to edit this page. Eventually, when time and resources permit, this initial collection will be formatted in accordance with the outline for bibliographies/ toolboxes relating to health,safety and social development issues used in this knowledge exchange program.

This page lists references and reviews on the role that schools can play in promoting personal hygiene and handwashing

In this outline, we identify relevant research, reports and resources within an understanding of the issue that we describe as an ecological and systems-based approach to school-based and school-linked health, safety, social and sustainable development. This outline suggests that we need a holistic understanding of the nature, prevalence, aspects and factors affecting the issue, the influence of the school's physical and social environment as well as its core practices, the effectiveness of comprehensive approaches, coordinated agency-school programs and whole school strategies as well as individual interventions, how these interventions can be implemented and sustained while ongoing capacities are built at all levels within education, health and other systems in a manner that respects the complex, open, loosely-coupled and bureaucratic systems that support schools. This outline also lists links that apply these interventions in a variety of local community and country contexts with a deep understanding of the core mandates and constraints of schools and educators. The outline concludes with items relating to future research questions, and methods.

Interventions are defined as including policies (including professional practice guidelines and organizational practices), educational programs, health, social, student & other services, social support activities such as parent involvement, youth engagement, working with media and community and changes to the physical environment or other practical resources such as transportation to and from school. The research cited here includes research reviews, important case studies and textbooks. The reports includes discussion/position papers and status reports. The resources include examples of programs/guidelines/mandates, planning guides/manuals, educational programs/curricula/educational methods guides, health or other agency service/clinical guidelines/mandates to work with schools, policy tools/guidelines/examples, assessment/evaluation tools, training tools and other resources such as key web sites or organizations

Nature, prevalence of the health issue

Luby, Stephen P., Mubina Agboatwalla, Daniel R Feikin, John Painter, Ward Billhimer MS, Arshad Altaf, Robert MHoekstra. 2005. “Effect of handwashing on child health: a randomized controlled trial.” The Lancet. Vol 366, July 16, 2005 http://www.aku.edu/CHS/pdf/SoapHealth_ARI_Lancet_Man.pdf

Curtis, V. and Cairncross, S. 2003. “Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review”. The Lancet Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 3, May 2003, pp 275-281. http://www.globalhandwashing.org/Publications/CurtisHandwashing.pdf

Impact of the School Environment

Effectiveness, Costs, and Benefits of Interventions

Health impact of handwashing with soap Jeroen Ensink Quality assurance: Val Curtis http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/fact-sheets/Handwashing.htm

Comprehensive Models that Integrate Diseases and Risks and Coordinate Interventions

Lister-Sharp D, Chapman S, Stewart-Brown S, Sowden A. 1999. Health promoting schools and health promotion in schools: Two systematic reviews. Health Technology Assessment. 3(22). (Review)

World Health Organization. Strengthening Interventions to Reduce Helminth Infections. (Report)

The Handwashing Handbook: A Guide for Developing a Hygiene Promotion Program to Increase Handwashing with Soap (Guide) http://www.globalhandwashing.org/

Policy Interventions

Instructional Interventions

World Health Organization. Strengthening Interventions to Reduce Helminth Infections. (Report)

Health Services Interventions

Role of Public Health Inspectors and Universal Preventions World Health Organization. The Physical School Environment. An Essential Component of a Health-Promoting School. (Report)

Social Support Interventions


Physical Environment Interventions


Implementation Planning and Strategies

Building Capacity

Systems Change