Overview
Project status: In progress
Although the study is multidisciplinary (health and education), the idea of using interactive puppet shows makes it distinctively creative. The art of puppetry is a theatrical genre that enhances and stimulates our creative and cognitive abilities.
- Research team
- QUT
- Organisational unit
- Lead unit Creative Industries Faculty
- Start date
- 1st January 2009
- End date
- 1st January 2011
- Research area
- Innovation in the performing and digital arts
Details
Abstract
Using social mobilization approach, the study will examine how handwashing with soap can be promoted and sustained among school children in Kenya. Puppetry has been used before to address other health and social issues but participatory and interactive approach has never been used to tackle hygiene promotion.
Project description
Sample (4) schools will be selected in urban Kenya. A puppetry troupe of approximately 6-10 children per school will be trained to construct and manipulate hand puppets. In a participatory manner, the facilitators together the children will develop scripts with appropriate messages. The interactive performances will be presented to the school community at appointed time once a week.
Observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews will be conducted to determine the effect of these
performances on the children's handwashing with soap behaviour.
Publications and output
The outcomes of this study will contributes towards the body of knowledge as far as the handwashing with soap initiative in Kenya and will be presented to policy makers as well as development partners involved in this initiative.
