Exploring the Use and Appeal of Playpens to Protect Infants from Exposure to Animals, Animal Feces, and Dirt in Rural Ethiopia

• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0445
• Publication Date: 2020-11-03T07:00:52Z
• Authors: Julia Rosenbaum; Eskindir Tenaw; Ron Clemmer; Morris Israel; Jeff Albert
• Keywords: Hand washing

The persistence and pervasiveness of growth stunting in low- middle-income countries spur reexamination disease transmission pathways related to water, sanitation, hygiene. Animal feces constitute a more important reservoir enteric pathogens homes low-income than previously recognized, exploratory object mouthing direct ingestion soil animal represent underexplored exposure pathways. effectiveness, adoption, constraints, scale-up potential measures for reducing infant young children's fecal are recently beginning be systematically explored. This mixed methods study tested the feasibility appeal using playpens establish hygienic "safe zone" infants rural Ethiopia. We conducted home trials three playpen designs, including two models made from locally available materials through user-centered design. After several weeks, caregivers reported extensive benefits, ranging perceived safety developmental hygiene benefits relief physical stress worry caregivers. observed many contaminated with Escherichia coli after weeks use, though at concentrations below those common room floor on which might otherwise have played. Caregivers daily but intervals likely insufficient protect pathogen affecting growth. determine that alone cannot plausibly environmental contamination, our results support further exploration commercial viability scaling up use rural, agricultural households as part comprehensive approach child development women's empowerment.