Mixed-methods study to test and assess uptake for gender-specific WASH indicators in Bangladesh: study protocol.

Introduction: Regular collection and reporting of gender data is critical for informing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)-related policies, programmes and investments that benefit all. Priority gender-specific indicators for WASH monitoring were identified and published in March 2024. However, the indicators need testing and there is a lack of understanding about what may enable or prevent governments from adopting them. This study aims to test and report against the priority gender indicators in Bangladesh and identify barriers and enablers to national-level indicator adoption. Analysis and methods: Four primary activities were identified to achieve the study aims: stakeholder meetings, cognitive interviews, survey data collection and key-informant interviews (KIIs). First, stakeholder meetings engage those involved in work related to gender, WASH and/or monitoring to discuss and solicit feedback on the proposed data collection plan, including if any additional Bangladesh-specific indicators should be tested. Second, 48 cognitive interviews (24 men and 24 women) assess face validity of the survey questions that generate indicator data. Findings are then used to strengthen survey question wording. Third, survey data collection with 600 participants (300 men, 300 women) generates data to test indicator performance. Finally, KIIs with 20-30 individuals engaged in WASH, gender and/or monitoring seek to gain impressions of the indicator data produced and to identify barriers and facilitators of indicator adoption. Qualitative data will be analysed thematically. Quantitative analyses will follow the approach used by the Bangladesh National Hygiene Survey. Ethics and dissemination: Institutional Review Boards at the University of Dhaka Institute of Health Economics and Emory University reviewed and approved the study. Indicator data will be shared with stakeholders during KIIs and more broadly through a learning workshop and via policy briefs. We aim to present at conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals. Data will be publicly available on publication of key findings.