The American Red Cross and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated on a sustainability evaluation of post-hurricane water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in Central America. In 2006 and 2009, we revisited six study areas in rural El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua to assess sustainability of WASH interventions finalized in 2002, after 1998's Hurricane Mitch. We used surveys to collect data, calculate indicators and identify factors that influence sustainability. Regional sustainability indicator results showed there was a statistically significant decline in access to water. The presence of sanitation facilities had not changed since the beginning of the project; however, maintenance and use of latrines declined but continued to meet the goal of 75% use after 7 years. The hygiene indicator, hand washing, initially declined and then increased. Declines in water access were due to operational problems related to storm events and population changes. Sanitation facilities were still present and sometimes used even though they reached or surpassed their original design life. Changes in hygiene practices appeared related to ongoing hygiene promotion from outside organizations. These results provide useful input for making WASH programs more sustainable and informing future, more in-depth research into factors influencing sustainability.

中文翻译：

---

中美洲水，环境卫生和个人卫生干预措施的可持续性。

美国红十字会与美国疾病控制与预防中心合作，对中美洲飓风后的水，环境卫生和个人卫生（WASH）干预措施进行了可持续性评估。在2006年和2009年，我们重新访问了萨尔瓦多，危地马拉，洪都拉斯和尼加拉瓜农村地区的六个研究区域，以评估在1998年的米奇飓风之后于2002年完成的WASH干预措施的可持续性。我们使用调查来收集数据，计算指标并确定影响可持续性的因素。区域可持续性指标结果表明，取水量在统计上显着下降。自项目开始以来，卫生设施的存在没有改变；然而，厕所的维护和使用有所减少，但在7年后仍继续达到使用75％的目标。卫生指标，洗手，最初下降，然后上升。取水量下降是由于与暴风雨事件和人口变化有关的业务问题。即使达到或超过了最初的设计寿命，环卫设施仍然存在，有时仍在使用。卫生习惯的变化似乎与外部组织的持续卫生宣传有关。这些结果为使WASH计划更具可持续性，并为将来对影响可持续性的因素进行更深入的研究提供了有用的信息。卫生习惯的变化似乎与外部组织的持续卫生宣传有关。这些结果为使WASH计划更具可持续性，并为将来对影响可持续性的因素进行更深入的研究提供了有用的信息。卫生习惯的变化似乎与外部组织的持续卫生宣传有关。这些结果为使WASH计划更具可持续性，并为将来对影响可持续性的因素进行更深入的研究提供了有用的信息。