community‐randomised controlled trial promoting waterless hand sanitizer and handwashing with soap, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Objectives To pilot two intensive hand hygiene promotion interventions, one using soap and one using a waterless hand sanitizer, in low‐income housing compounds in Dhaka, Bangladesh and assess subsequent changes in handwashing behaviour and hand microbiology. Methods Fieldworkers randomized 30 housing compounds: 10 received handwashing promotion with free soap, 10 received handwashing promotion with free waterless hand sanitizer and 10 were non‐intervention controls. Fieldworkers assessed handwashing behaviour by structured observation and collected hand rinse specimens. Results At baseline, compound residents washed their hands with soap 26% of the time after defecation and 30% after cleaning a child's anus but