No germs on me: a social marketing campaign to promote hand-washing with soap in remote Australian Aboriginal communities

Abstract

A social marketing campaign promoting hand-washing with soap was implemented to reduce the high burden of infection experienced by Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities. Epidemiological evidence of effect and other evidence were used to identify the hygiene intervention and health promotion approach for the project. We drew on the findings of: (i) a systematic literature review to identify the intervention for which there is strong effect in similar populations and contexts; and (ii) a narrative literature review to determine our health promotion approach. This process provided practitioners with confidence and understanding so they could address a complex problem in a politically and otherwise sensitive context.

Keywords

evidence-based practice health promotion organizational case studies public health social marketing

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References

McDonald E. , Bailie R. , Grace J. and Brewster D. A case study of physical and social barriers to hygiene and child growth in remote Australian Aboriginal communities. BMC Public Health. 2009; 9(1): 346.

NT Government Department of Health and Families. ‘No germs on me’ - Hand-washing campaign. Northern Territory Government., 2009. (Accessed 7 Dec. 2009.) Available from: http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Environmental_Health/No_Germs_on_Me_Campaign/index.aspx.

McDonald E. , Bailie R. , Brewster D. and Morris P. Are hygiene and public health interventions likely to improve outcomes for Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities? A systematic review of the literature. BMC Public Health. 2008; 8: 153.