Background: Hand washing is very effective in preventing communicable diseases. Hand washing is particularly important for children, as they are more vulnerable to infections gained from unwashed hands and also due to their unhealthy behaviour. The study was conducted to determine the availability of hand washing facilities, hand washing knowledge and practices among public primary schools in Kintampo Municipality.Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out among 300 children and 10 headmasters in 10 selected schools. Data were collected using questionnaires and observation checklist regarding socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of hand washing, hand washing practices and availability of hand washing facilities in the selected schools.Results: All the children indicated that it was important to wash their hands with water and soap. About (37.67%) washed their hands in order to prevent diseases, 53.33% had never been educated on how to wash their hands. Only 23.33% of the children demonstrated correctly on how to wash hands, a little over 15% washed their hands under clean running water whiles 23.33% wipe their hands using handkerchiefs. Forty-three percent indicated after visiting toilet as necessary to wash hands whiles 42.33% cited lack of water as the barrier to hand washing. About 39.88% always washed their hands with soap after using the toilet; about 60% of the schools had hand washing points. Only 30% of the schools have clean running water.Conclusions: There is the need for effective hand washing education in the schools to help improve hand washing knowledge and practices. Hand washing facilities in the schools were found to be inadequate.

Introduction: Food handlers’ hands serve as a vehicle for potential foodborne pathogenic contamination which constitutes a public health risk. In Ghana, there are always constant reports of outbreaks of foodborne diseases in schools. However, determinants of hand hygiene practice among educational institutions food handlers are little known. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the determinants of hand hygiene practice at critical times among educational institutions’ food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey among educational institutions food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Two hundred and six food handlers were selected through convenience sampling in the educational institutions. At the same time, structured questions that were developed from previous studies were used to assess food handlers’ hand hygiene practice at critical times. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. All variables with their respective confidence intervals (95%) and adjusted odds ratios were declared significant at P-values less than .05. Results: Hand hygiene practice at critical times among the food handlers were relatively good at a rating of 66.0% (95% CI: 59.1, 72.5%). Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was less likely among food handlers with no food safety training (AOR 0.04; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.41) and food handlers who had insufficient knowledge of hand hygiene (AOR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01, 0.25). Good hygiene practice at critical times was 99% lower in food handlers with a negative attitude as compared to food handlers with positive attitudes towards hand hygiene at critical times (AOR 0.01; 95% CI 0.00, 0.07). Only 17.0% of the food handlers demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, whereas a good number (85.4%) of the food handlers did not wash their hands after touching money. Conclusion: Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was relatively good. Food safety training, knowledge of hand hygiene and attitudes towards hand hygiene were independent predictors of hand hygiene practice at critical times. Concerned stakeholders and organizations should focus on WASH interventions that seek to improve educational institutions food handlers’ knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene, coupled with training on food safety.

The marked increase in the pig-trade in Ghana has raised concerns about increased transmission of related zoonotic diseases. A study on pig-related zoonoses along the pork value-chain was conducted in Greater Accra and Upper East Regions of Ghana. Results showed significant taenia (60%) and trichinella (8%) seroprevalence in pigs in Upper East with little evidence of transmission to humans. Sero-prevalence of HEV was high in both pigs (85%) and humans (37%). Sero-prevalence rates were significantly higher in Upper East than Greater Accra. Pig handlers in Accra had significantly higher sero-prevalence rates (58%) than other community members (18%) but there was no such association in the Upper East. Given the high rates of mortality, miscarriage and stillbirth associated with HEV in pregnancy, it is a cause for concern that 31% women of child-bearing age tested sero-positive for HEV.

BackgroundDomestic waste generation has contributed significantly to hampering national waste management efforts. It poses serious threat to national development and requires proper treatment and management within and outside households. The problem of improper waste management has always been a challenge in Ghana, compelling several national surveys to report on the practice of waste management. However, little is known about how much waste is generated and managed within households and there is a serious dearth of information for national policy and planning. This paper seeks to document the handling and practice of waste management, including collection, storage, transportation and disposal along with the types and amount of waste generated by Households and their related health outcome.MethodsThe study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and used a multi-stage sampling technique to sample 700 households. The study was planned and implemented from January to May 2015. It involved the use of structured questionnaires in the data collection over the period. Factors such as demographic characteristics, amount of waste generated, types of waste bins used within households, waste recycling, cost of disposing waste, and distance to dumpsite were all assessed.ResultsThe paper shows that each surveyed household generated 0.002 t of waste per day, of which 29% are both organic and inorganic. Though more than half of the respondents (53.6%) had positive attitude towards waste management, only 29.1% practiced waste management. The study reveals that there is no proper management of domestic waste except in few households that segregate waste. The study identified several elements as determinants of waste management practice. Female respondents were less likely to practice waste management (AOR 0.45; 95% Cl 0.29, 0.79), household size also determined respondents practice (AOR 0.26; Cl 0.09, 0.77). Practice of recycling (AOR 0.03; Cl 0.02, 0.08), distance to dumpsite (AOR 0.45; Cl 0.20, 0.99), were all significant predictors of waste management practice. Cholera which is a hygiene related disease was three times more likely to determine households’ waste management practice (AOR 3.22; Cl 1.33, 7.84).ConclusionConsidering the low waste management practice among households, there is the need for improved policy and enhanced education on proper waste management practice among households.

INTRODUCTION: Food handlers' hands serve as a vehicle for potential foodborne pathogenic contamination which constitutes a public health risk. In Ghana, there are always constant reports of outbreak of foodborne diseases in schools. However, determinants of hand hygiene practice among educational institutions food handlers are little known in Ghana. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the determinants of hand hygiene practice at critical times among educational institutions food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey among educational institutions food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Two hundred and six food handlers were selected through convenience sampling in the educational institutions. At the same time, structured questions that were developed from previous studies were used to assess food handlers' hand hygiene practice at critical times. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. All variables with their respective confidence interval (95%) and adjusted odds ratios were declared significant at p-value less than 0.05.RESULTS: The hand hygiene practice at critical times among the food handlers was relatively good 66.0% (95% CI: 59.1, 72.5%) and is independently predicted by training on food safety [AOR = 24.39, (95% CI: 2.24 – 245.45) p=0.007], sufficient knowledge of hand hygiene [AOR = 16.34, (95% CI: 3.92 – 68.05) p<0.001] and positive attitude towards hand hygiene [AOR = 82.08, (95% CI: 14.21-474.26) p<0.001]. Only 17.0% of the food handlers demonstrated proper handwashing techniques whereas a good number (85.4%) of the food handlers did not wash their hands after touching money.CONCLUSION: Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was influenced by training on food safety, sufficient knowledge of hand hygiene, and positive attitudes towards hand hygiene. These findings demonstrate the significant role of food handlers' hand hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and training on food safety in improving hand hygiene practices. Concerned stakeholders and organizations should focus on WASH interventions that seek to improve educational institutions food handlers’ knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene, coupled with training on food safety.