Baseline data report

N.B This is only an example and does not cover all aspects of a baseline data
collection. You may also want to write up each community separately.

Methodology
The baseline survey was carried out in six communities, four in the Twiga
ethnic group and two in the Twa villages – the latter group are considered a
marginalized group who may have particular needs or preferences with regard
to the provision of water and sanitation.
Data has been gathered using exploratory walks, focus group discussions,
mapping and voting charts. Discussions with key informants have also been
held. Separate discussion groups and interviews were held with male and
female groups in order to gain their different perspectives.
The key areas of significant public health risk were explored rather than trying
to obtain all the information possible on ‘hygiene practices’.
Methods:
Focus group discussions - two in each village, one with men and one with
women
Mapping – all villages with mixed groups
Exploratory walks – all villages
Voting charts – six groups, three men and three women

Results
Latrine use
In the focus groups, both men and women stated that it was not possible for
latrines to be shared and there were also other cultural aspects. As one men
said:
“Twa men may not see their mother-in-law entering a toilet – it is deeply
shameful and considered bad luck for my fertility.”
Over half of women in all groups felt that this taboo forced them to wait until
dark “when it is possible to creep out” or to use a utensil in the house;’
“Like an old tin, which I keep in the shed”.
During a pocket voting exercise the following results were obtained on places
preferred for defecation.

Defecation site Latrine River Bushes Bury it

Men 102 51 27 0
Women 10 68 100 2
Children 1-5 0 20 100 40
years
Children under 0 0 45 50
1

Oxfam GB M&E material / Dr Vivien Walden, M&E Advisor

On exploratory walks around the villages there is a significant amount of
children’s excreta observed and children were also observed defecating in the
compounds. This was especially obvious in the Twa communities.
In the focus groups, some mothers said that they do not clean up unless it is
near to the house as “the dogs usually eat it.” At least half the men said that
latrines were not used by children under five, as it was not considered
necessary:
“Children’s excreta is not dangerous, its only when you are an adult.”

Water usage
An exploratory walk in all villages showed that people were using all sources:
there were women with buckets at the well but also children collecting water
at the river where bathing, washing and utensil washing was also going on. In
the voting exercises, everyone without exception said that they used water
only for anal cleaning. In the focus group with women in the Twiga
communities, it was said that soap was precious:
“It is hard to get soap so we usually offer it to guests after a meal – it makes
our hands smell nice.”
The Twa communities had made soap from coconut oil but this was no longer
available and “we don’t know anything lese to use instead.”
Hand washing
In the pocket voting on times for hand washing the results were as follows:
After Before eating After eating After cleaning
defecation children
Men 160 80 180 -
Women 150 95 180 25
Children 25 30 180 10

Reasons for hand washing appear to be varied. In one focus group of 12

women, only one woman said it was to “prevent germs.” In the men’s group in
the same community, about one-third knew it was to prevent disease. Others
felt that it was “to make your hands smell nice” or “to be acceptable to
visitors.”

Water storage
All methods of investigation showed that it is women and children who collect
the water. Pocket voting showed the following preferred sources to be used:
Pump Open well River
Drinking 120 60 0
Washing 20 55 105
clothes
Bathing 25 20 135
Watering 50 50 80
animals

The exploratory walk showed that only in three villages (names) the hand
pumps were faulty. In the focus groups in those villages, over two-thirds of the
people said that they had been asked for money for repairs but “we have

Oxfam GB M&E material / Dr Vivien Walden, M&E Advisor

never seen hair or hide of the workers supposed to fix the pump.” In village X,
people complained of the water in the open well being salty.
On exploratory walks in village X, Y and Z, only a few of these wells were
observed to be covered. Many had mosquito larvae in them and the water
was often quite turbid. The mapping exercise also showed that in all the
villages, the pumps are not readily accessible to all households.
In all the focus groups in all villages, almost all the participants agreed that
there was a shortage of water containers especially for storing water.

Conclusions
If latrines especially for women were built. Women would use them as they
provide privacy and a chance to relieve oneself at convenient times

There needs to be some messages about the danger of children’s faeces and
a campaign to get people to either bury them or throw them in the latrine. The
idea of potties should be explored.

Hand washing before eating and after latrine visits needs to be encouraged.
Soap is a priority but later maybe we could explore making soap from coconut
oil.

The open-wells would appear to be polluted and we need to be encouraging

people to use the wells

Training on pump maintenance and a mechanism to pay for repairs should be

one of our longer-term goals

Water containers are a necessity as well as more information to people on

how to keep these clean and water free from contamination.

Oxfam GB M&E material / Dr Vivien Walden, M&E Advisor