Case study: Good health and wellbeing (SDG3): A little dust-up: Co-designing cleaning practices in Ghanaian households to combat antimicrobial resistance

Darby, A. and Pickup, R. and Ahorlu, C. and Tsekleves, E. and De Souza, D. and Boakye, D. and Rhodes, G. (2021) Case study: Good health and wellbeing (SDG3): A little dust-up: Co-designing cleaning practices in Ghanaian households to combat antimicrobial resistance. In: Design for Global Challenges and Goals :. Design for Social Responsibility . Routledge, London, pp. 63-80. ISBN 9780367568511

Abstract

In response to the developing global health crisis arising from the diminishing efficacy of antibiotics, a design-led collaboration between academics from the UK and Ghana explored hygiene practices across different home environments in Ghana. In doing so, we developed our understanding of the home as a source of infection stemming from bacteria, some of which are disease-causing pathogens carried by dust that could carry antimicrobial resistance. These insights were then used by householders to co-design context-specific cleaning practices that sought to mitigate the impacts of pathogen exposure and antimicrobial resistance. This case study outlines the Dust Bunny project and draws on reflections and interviews with the wider research team to offer insights into the challenges and opportunities for design research exemplified in this project, which may be applicable to other Global South-Global North project collaborations.