Strategic value of interviewer training and local community-based organisations for WaSH and antibiotic resistance surveys

Abstract

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) research has long relied on household surveys to gather knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) data with local enumerators or community correspondents (CCs). However, CCs must be trained to build capacity and ensure representative survey responses. Here, we use a case study in low-income, informal communities from New Delhi, India to assess the value of structured training for individuals who lead the gathering of KAP data (CC leaders, CCLs) on WaSH and antibiotic resistance. Feedback from CCLs showed that directed training increased their motivation, confidence, and technical competence and provided them skills that enhanced data collection. Training further strengthened relationships and empowered our local community-based organisation (CBO), expanding their role beyond being an implementing partner. Empowerment led to new insights, such as evident problems with communications between local doctors and community dwellers. Only three of 38 focus group attendees knew what an antibiotic was, apparently because they were never told. Overall, this work shows that interviewer training has many trickle-down benefits, improving the quality of data, building confidence in field teams, and empowering local CBOs, but most importantly, by increasing knowledge among community dwellers, such that they also might be empowered. HIGHLIGHTS Local knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) surveys are key to WaSH implementation.; Surveys on complex topics, such as antibiotic resistance, require interviewer training.; A study of informal communities in New Delhi showed ∼95% of focus group participants knew nothing about antibiotics.; Training increased the confidence of interviewers and empowered the local community-based organisation (CBO).; The foreign research team gained reciprocal benefit from training with the CBO by improving the KAP survey.;

Keywords

• antibiotics
• empowerment
• kap research
• surveys
• training
• wash