Community Health Clubs Improve Latrine Construction Through Savings, Lending, and Income-Generating Activities

From 2014 to 2020, in the Matabeleland North and South provinces in Zimbabwe, the Amalima program used community health clubs (CHCs) to promote sanitation behavior change, particularly among vulnerable households. International Medical Corps, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Childcare conducted a qualitative assessment to identify barriers to, motivators of and enablers of latrine construction and explore how a CHC model that integrated access to financing and savings might support latrine coverage. The research team conducted ten focus group discussions with CHC members and 19 in-depth interviews with key informants. The study found that key motivators and enablers of latrine construction included health benefits; the desire to avoid disgust, shame and embarrassment; access to materials and construction; and social support. The barriers included costs, water access,
limited leadership support and behavior change resistance. The findings also suggest that financial activities helped CHC members overcome material and construction costs. Thus, integrating financial activities into CHCs may improve sanitation coverage and the study recommends that such add-ons be considered in CHC training programs.