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Therapeutics
A handwashing intervention in a low income community in the developing world reduced disease incidence in children

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebm.11.3.88

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    Luby SP, Agboatwalla M, Feikin DR, et al. Effect of handwashing on child health: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005;366:225-33.

    
 
 Q In children who live in a low income community in the developing world, does handwashing reduce the incidence of acute respiratory infections, impetigo, and diarrhoea?

    Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Infectious disease ★★★★★★☆ Paediatrics ★★★★★☆☆ Public health ★★★★★☆☆

    METHODS

    Embedded ImageDesign:

    cluster randomised controlled trial.

    Embedded ImageAllocation:

    {concealed*}†.

    Embedded ImageBlinding:

    unblinded.*

    Embedded ImageFollow up period:

    1 year.

    Embedded ImageSetting:

    adjoining squatter settlements in central Karachi, Pakistan.

    Embedded ImageParticipants:

    4691 children <15 years of age in 906 households in 36 neighbourhoods. Eligible households had ⩾2 children who were <15 years of age (1 of whom was <5 y). Households that had previously received a soap or water vessel intervention were excluded.

    Embedded ImageIntervention:

    25 neighbourhoods (3163 children) were allocated to handwashing, and 11 neighbourhoods (1528 children) were assigned to a control group. Households within the handwashing …

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    Footnotes

    • ↵* See glossary

    • ↵†

      Luby P, Agboatwalla M, Painter J, et al. JAMA 2004;291:2547–54.
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science

    • For correspondence: Dr S P Luby, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. sluby{at}icddrb.org

    • Source of funding: Procter & Gamble.

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      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
      BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2006; 11 95a-95a Published Online First: 30 May 2006. doi: 10.1136/ebm.11.3.95a