Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices related to water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) in rural areas: Case Study of Tibiri Commune, Dosso Region, southwest Niger

Access to essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services remains a major challenge in rural areas of Niger. This contributes to the prevalence of waterborne diseases, thereby justifying the need for close monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and the sustainable management of water resources. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of vulnerable households in the commune of Tibiri, Dosso region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 randomly selected households across four villages, using a structured questionnaire administered via KoboCollect. Findings reveal a low level of knowledge (43%), generally positive attitudes (64%), and insufficient practices (43%). Despite partial understanding of some essential WASH interventions, risky behaviors persist, such as limited household water treatment, irregular latrine maintenance, and low use of soap for handwashing. These results highlight the need to promote integrated WASH approaches that combine improved access to safe drinking water, provision of adequate sanitation facilities, active promotion of hygiene practices, and strengthened community participation, in order to sustainably reduce the risks of waterborne diseases in similar rural contexts.