IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i20p4049-d279112.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Adapting Translational Research Methods to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Author

Listed:
  • Karen Setty

    (The Water Institute at UNC and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, CB #7431 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA)

  • Ryan Cronk

    (The Water Institute at UNC and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, CB #7431 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA)

  • Shannan George

    (The Water Institute at UNC and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, CB #7431 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA)

  • Darcy Anderson

    (The Water Institute at UNC and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, CB #7431 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA)

  • Għanja O’Flaherty

    (The Water Institute at UNC and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, CB #7431 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA)

  • Jamie Bartram

    (The Water Institute at UNC and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, CB #7431 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA)

Abstract

Translational research applies scientific techniques to achieve practical outcomes, connecting pure research and pure practice. Many translational research types have arisen since the mid-1900s, reflecting the need to better integrate scientific advancement with policy and practice. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) development efforts have aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve service delivery; thus, associated research has a strong orientation toward applied studies that use diverse methods to support decision-making. Drawing from knowledge that emerged to support other professional fields, such as manufacturing and clinical healthcare, we characterize different types of translational research and clarify nomenclature and principles. We describe study approaches relevant to translational research questions, and offer overarching recommendations, specific examples, and resources for further study as practical advice to professionals who seek to apply translational methods to WaSH problems. To enhance collective outcomes, professionals should mindfully align projects within the translational spectrum. We further recommend overarching good practices such as documenting intervention adaptations, overtly considering contextual factors, and better distinguishing efficacy from effectiveness research by replicating studies in different contexts. By consciously improving the compatibility and linkages between WaSH science and practice, this guide can accelerate urgently needed progress toward global development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Setty & Ryan Cronk & Shannan George & Darcy Anderson & Għanja O’Flaherty & Jamie Bartram, 2019. "Adapting Translational Research Methods to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-31, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:4049-:d:279112
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/4049/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/4049/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anjali Adukia, 2017. "Sanitation and Education," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(2), pages 23-59, April.
    2. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303482_9 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Myles Bateman & Susan Engel, 2018. "To shame or not to shame—that is the sanitation question," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(2), pages 155-173, March.
    4. Dunn, Gemma & Laing, Matthew, 2017. "Policy-makers perspectives on credibility, relevance and legitimacy (CRELE)," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 146-152.
    5. Shiloh Deitz & Katie Meehan, 2019. "Plumbing Poverty: Mapping Hot Spots of Racial and Geographic Inequality in U.S. Household Water Insecurity," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 109(4), pages 1092-1109, July.
    6. Linda G. Morra Imas & Ray C. Rist, 2009. "The Road to Results : Designing and Conducting Effective Development Evaluations," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2699.
    7. Cameron, Lisa & Olivia, Susan & Shah, Manisha, 2019. "Scaling up sanitation: Evidence from an RCT in Indonesia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 1-16.
    8. Perkins, Jessica M. & Subramanian, S.V. & Christakis, Nicholas A., 2015. "Social networks and health: A systematic review of sociocentric network studies in low- and middle-income countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 60-78.
    9. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.303686_5 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Glasgow, R.E. & Lichtenstein, E. & Marcus, A.C., 2003. "Why Don't We See More Translation of Health Promotion Research to Practice? Rethinking the Efficacy-to-Effectiveness Transition," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(8), pages 1261-1267.
    11. Wallerstein, N. & Duran, B., 2010. "Community-based participatory research contributions to intervention research: The intersection of science and practice to improve health equity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(S1), pages 40-46.
    12. Jan H F Remme & Taghreed Adam & Francisco Becerra-Posada & Catherine D'Arcangues & Michael Devlin & Charles Gardner & Abdul Ghaffar & Joachim Hombach & Jane F K Kengeya & Anthony Mbewu & Michael T Mbi, 2010. "Defining Research to Improve Health Systems," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(11), pages 1-7, November.
    13. Robert Chambers, 2012. "Sharing and Co‐generating Knowledges: Reflections on Experiences with PRA and CLTS," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(3), pages 71-87, May.
    14. Benjamin-Chung, J. & Sultana, S. & Halder, A.K. & Ahsan, M.A. & Arnold, B.F. & Hubbard, A.E. & Unicomb, L. & Luby, S.P. & Colford, J.M., 2017. "Scaling up a water, sanitation, and hygiene program in rural Bangladesh: The role of program implementation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(5), pages 694-701.
    15. Claude Ménard & Alejandro Jimenez & Hakan Tropp, 2018. "Addressing the policy-implementation gaps in water services: the key role of meso-institutions," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 13-33, January.
    16. Barrington, D.J. & Sridharan, S. & Saunders, S.G. & Souter, R.T. & Bartram, J. & Shields, K.F. & Meo, S. & Kearton, A. & Hughes, R.K., 2016. "Improving community health through marketing exchanges: A participatory action research study on water, sanitation, and hygiene in three Melanesian countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 84-93.
    17. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    18. McMichael, Celia & Robinson, Priscilla, 2016. "Drivers of sustained hygiene behaviour change: A case study from mid-western Nepal," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 28-36.
    19. Fekadu Megersa Senbeta & Yang Shu, 2019. "Project Implementation Management Modalities and Their Implications on Sustainability of Water Services in Rural Areas in Ethiopia: Are Community-Managed Projects More Effective?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-19, March.
    20. Stillo, F. & Gibson, J.M., 2017. "Exposure to contaminated drinking water and health disparities in North Carolina," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(1), pages 180-185.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Darcy M. Anderson & Annabelle Black Bear & Tracy Zacher & Kelly Endres & Ronald Saxton & Francine Richards & Lisa Bear Robe & David Harvey & Lyle G. Best & Reno Red Cloud & Elizabeth D. Thomas & Joel , 2023. "Implementing a Community-Led Arsenic Mitigation Intervention for Private Well Users in American Indian Communities: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Strong Heart Water Study Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-24, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Natalie Bradford & Shirley Chambers & Adrienne Hudson & Jacqui Jauncey‐Cooke & Robyn Penny & Carol Windsor & Patsy Yates, 2019. "Evaluation frameworks in health services: An integrative review of use, attributes and elements," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(13-14), pages 2486-2498, July.
    2. Tabia Henry Akintobi & Payam Sheikhattari & Emma Shaffer & Christina L. Evans & Kathryn L. Braun & Angela U. Sy & Bibiana Mancera & Adriana Campa & Stephania T. Miller & Daniel Sarpong & Rhonda Hollid, 2021. "Community Engagement Practices at Research Centers in U.S. Minority Institutions: Priority Populations and Innovative Approaches to Advancing Health Disparities Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Wang, Dongqin & Shen, Yanni, 2022. "Sanitation and work time: Evidence from the toilet revolution in rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Abramovsky, Laura & Augsburg, Britta & Lührmann, Melanie & Oteiza, Francisco & Rud, Juan Pablo, 2023. "Community matters: Heterogeneous impacts of a sanitation intervention," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    5. Tamara M. Haegerich & Corinne David-Ferdon & Rita K. Noonan & Brian J. Manns & Holly C. Billie, 2017. "Technical Packages in Injury and Violence Prevention to Move Evidence Into Practice," Evaluation Review, , vol. 41(1), pages 78-108, February.
    6. Cristina Marcillo & Leigh-Anne Krometis & Justin Krometis, 2021. "Approximating Community Water System Service Areas to Explore the Demographics of SDWA Compliance in Virginia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Josef Novotný & Jiří Hasman & Martin Lepič & Vít Bořil, 2018. "PROTOCOL: Community‐led total sanitation in rural areas of low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review of evidence on effects and influencing factors," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 1-27.
    8. Jessica Tribbe & Valentina Zuin & Caroline Delaire & Ranjiv Khush & Rachel Peletz, 2021. "How Do Rural Communities Sustain Sanitation Gains? Qualitative Comparative Analyses of Community-Led Approaches in Cambodia and Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    9. Shelton, Rachel C. & Lee, Matthew & Brotzman, Laura E. & Crookes, Danielle M. & Jandorf, Lina & Erwin, Deborah & Gage-Bouchard, Elizabeth A., 2019. "Use of social network analysis in the development, dissemination, implementation, and sustainability of health behavior interventions for adults: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 81-101.
    10. Roy, Anne-Sophie & Mazaniello-Chézol, Maud & Rueda-Martinez, Maria & Shafique, Sohana & Adams, Alayne M., 2023. "Food systems determinants of nutritional health and wellbeing in urban informal settlements: A scoping review in LMICs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    11. John Friesen & Victoria Friesen & Ingo Dietrich & Peter F. Pelz, 2020. "Slums, Space, and State of Health—A Link between Settlement Morphology and Health Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-28, March.
    12. Revilla, Ma. Laarni D. & Qu, Fangqi & Seetharam, K E & Rao, Bhanoji, 2021. "“Sanitation” in the Top Development Journals: A Review," ADBI Working Papers 1253, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    13. Pakhtigian, Emily L. & Pattanayak, Subhrendu K., 2024. "Social setting, gender, and preferences for improved sanitation: Evidence from experimental games in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    14. Hoon Chuah, Fiona Leh & Srivastava, Aastha & Singh, Shweta Rajkumar & Haldane, Victoria & Huat Koh, Gerald Choon & Seng, Chia Kee & McCoy, David & Legido-Quigley, Helena, 2018. "Community participation in general health initiatives in high and upper-middle income countries: A systematic review exploring the nature of participation, use of theories, contextual drivers and powe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 106-122.
    15. Vicki-Ann Ware & Kim Dunphy, 2019. "Methodological Practices in Research on Arts-Based Programs in International Development: A Systematic Review," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(3), pages 480-503, July.
    16. Evan Plous Kresch & Molly Lipscomb & Laura Schechter, 2020. "Externalities and Spillovers from Sanitation and Waste Management in Urban and Rural Neighborhoods," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3), pages 395-420, September.
    17. Sclar, G.D. & Penakalapati, G. & Caruso, B.A. & Rehfuess, E.A. & Garn, J.V. & Alexander, K.T. & Freeman, M.C. & Boisson, S. & Medlicott, K. & Clasen, T., 2018. "Exploring the relationship between sanitation and mental and social well-being: A systematic review and qualitative synthesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 121-134.
    18. İlkay Unay-Gailhard & Mark A. Brennen, 2022. "How digital communications contribute to shaping the career paths of youth: a review study focused on farming as a career option," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(4), pages 1491-1508, December.
    19. Mahin Ghafari & Vali Baigi & Zahra Cheraghi & Amin Doosti-Irani, 2016. "The Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Iranian Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-10, June.
    20. Elizabeth T Cafiero-Fonseca & Andrew Stawasz & Sydney T Johnson & Reiko Sato & David E Bloom, 2017. "The full benefits of adult pneumococcal vaccination: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:4049-:d:279112. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.