PROTOCOL: Community‐led total sanitation in rural areas of low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review of evidence on effects and influencing factors

Abstract

Objectives 1) What is the effectiveness of CLTS approaches in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries? 2) Which factors influence the implementation and results of CLTS approaches in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries and how? The two research questions defined above will be accomplished through the following steps. First, we will systematically identify studies that analyze CLTS approaches and report on their results. Second, we will appraise these studies along the predefined criteria developed for the purposes of this systematic review and determine the final sample of studies. Third, we will identify sanitation outcomes analyzed in the final sample of studies and typologically classify these outcomes. Fourth, we will assess the evidence on effectiveness of CLTS with respect to different types of outcomes (feasibility of meta-analysis will be considered on an ad-hoc basis). Fifth, we will identify factors influencing CLTS implementation and reported sanitation outcomes and typologically classify these factors. Sixth, we will examine and characterize how the theory of change behind CLTS is represented. Seventh, we will attempt to assess how different contextual and implementation factors affect results of CLTS.