ABSTRACT\nObjective: This study was aimed to explore the drivers of hand washing behavior among mothers \nand caregivers of infants in Aba-shawl sub zone, Asmara, Eritrea. Methodology: A qualitative \nstudy was conducted from July to December 2019 in Aba-shawl sub-zone, Asmara. All \nparticipants in this study were selected using chain referral sampling. In-depth interviews were \nconducted on twenty mothers and caregivers of infants. Focus group discussion was done in \nEdaga Hamus Hospital with eight mothers of infants from Aba-shawl subzone and two key \ninformants were interviewed; one health professional from Edaga-hamus Hospital, and one \nadministrator of Aba-shawl subzone. In addition to that the researchers observed the general \nconditions of the community including cleanliness, availability and accessibility of water, toilet and \nother cleaning facilities. Results: The barriers to hand washing behavior identified in this society \nwere; new responsibilities of nurturing an infant, increased workload when nurturing an infant in \naddition to rearing other children, lack of affordability of hand washing materials for frequent use, \nlack of hand washing materials in the locations where they spend most of their time, elders\' fear \nof excessive exposure to water and thereby opposing frequent hand washing behavior of mothers \nand caregivers of infants. Motivators of hand washing behavior include; mothers’ and caregivers’ \nperceptions of good motherhood, perception that soap is necessary to clean hands particularly \nfor visual dirt and improving the smell of hands, support from husbands and other family members, \navailability of soap and close proximity of water and hand washing station and other hand \nwashing facilities, perceived benefit of hand washing for prevention of childhood illnesses \nprimarily diarrhea and other enteric problems, verbal cues from close ones regarding hand \nwashing before and after breastfeeding, and environmental factors like the overall conditions of \nthe study site. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that there are sizable opportunities to \nimprove hand washing behavior among mothers and caregivers of infants in Aba-shawl sub-zone. \nFocusing on the specific barriers and motivators of hand washing prevailing in the study area, \nresponsible authorities need to scale-up their efforts to improve mothers and care givers hand \nwashing behavior.