Understanding barriers to quality of care: An approach for conducting a situational analysis of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and quality in health care facilities

Overview

This document describes an approach for conducting a national situational analysis of water, sanitation hygiene (WASH) as a basis for improving quality of care. A situational analysis is the first of the eight “practical steps” recommended by WHO and UNICEF as a means to trigger action to improve and sustain WASH in health care facilities, a prerequisite for providing quality care.

This document describes the process from the initial preparatory stages, including triggers for action, through data collection and analysis to the dissemination of results. Each element of the approach is described and possible limitations and mechanisms to mitigate these are explored. It is intended for use by national governments, UN organisations and partners wishing to better understand how to conduct a national situation analysis of WASH in health care facilities and quality in order to understand policy gaps, raise awareness of problems, tailor interventions and advocate for additional financing.