Appropriate handwashing can prevent 50–70% of water and foodborne infections. However, schoolchildren who are in the formative stage of life, particularly in low-income countries like Nepal, are deprived of such a lifesaving skill. This study investigates the effectiveness of a school-based participatory action research intervention to promote handwashing with soap among basic level community school students in Nepal. Teachers, the school management committee, the participatory action research committee, and child-club members actively participated in designing and implementing the intervention. This study employed a semi-structured interview with the headteacher, five focus group discussions, and spot observations during 50 handwashing with soap events involving students, to collect the data. This study assesses the handwashing situation of students before and after the intervention. As part of the intervention, participatory teaching methods such as singing, drawing, showing a video, games, and demonstrations were used. Findings from basic level students who actively participated in hygiene sessions and increased their handwashing with soap before meals and after toilet use were used as a comparison to baseline. Participants reported that the intervention was perceived positively, pragmatic, and cost-effective. This intervention study concluded that handwashing behaviors improved because of the influence of sensitization sessions and demonstrations about handwashing. However, some predominant issues in the teaching of handwashing practices include limited hygiene contents in the curriculum and the practical use of teaching and learning activities. The lack of availability of soap at handwashing stations is the main barrier in sustaining handwashing behaviors in schoolchildren.

适当的洗手可以预防50-70％的水和食源性感染。但是，处于成长期的学童，特别是在尼泊尔等低收入国家的学童，被剥夺了这种救生技能。这项研究调查了以学校为基础的参与式行动研究干预措施，以促进尼泊尔基层社区学校学生用肥皂洗手的有效性。教师，学校管理委员会，参与性行动研究委员会和儿童俱乐部成员积极参与了干预措施的设计和实施。这项研究采用了对校长的半结构化访谈，五个专题小组讨论以及在50次涉及学生的肥皂事件洗手过程中的现场观察，以收集数据。本研究评估了干预前后学生的洗手情况。作为干预的一部分，使用了参与式教学方法，例如唱歌，绘画，展示视频，游戏和演示。积极参加卫生课程并在进餐前和上厕所后用肥皂洗手的基础水平学生的调查结果被用作与基线的比较。与会者报告说，该干预措施是积极，务实且具有成本效益的。这项干预研究的结论是，由于敏化会话和有关洗手的演示的影响，洗手行为得到了改善。然而，洗手实践教学中的一些主要问题包括课程中卫生内容的限制以及教与学活动的实际使用。在洗手站缺乏肥皂是维持小学生洗手行为的主要障碍。