Potential hygiene motivators and de-motivators among rural communities in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

This study describes potential personal, household and community hygiene motivators and de-motivators among 494 villagers in the Eastern Cape. Over 50% were 26-50 years, male, married, employed and had secondary education. Individual interviews were conducted using an interview schedule with open ended questions. More than 50% viewed access to regular water supply as a hygiene motivator and the lack thereof as a de-motivator. Personal hygiene (30%), refuse/solid waste disposal (14.2%), safe human excreta disposal (28.5%) and safe liquid waste disposal (12.0%) facilities were viewed as hygiene motivators and the lack of these as de-motivators. Hygiene education was identified as a motivator for personal (7.5%), household (7.6%) and community (7.8%) hygiene and the lack of it as a de-motivator. Protected household water storage facilities (10.2%), money to purchase both personal hygiene items (10.5%) and domestic hygiene detergents (8.4%) were seen as hygiene motivators and the lack of these as de-motivators.