Association between Handwashing Knowledge and Practices among the Students in Nepal

Sharma, Mohan Kumar; Khanal, Shanti Prasad; Acharya, Devaraj; Acharya, Jib

doi:10.3126/paj.v4i0.37005

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…However, a study by Sharma in 2021 among secondary-level students in Nepal found that 94.8 percent of respondents washed their hands with soap before eating. Similarly, 90.7 percent in the study area washed their hands after defecation, whereas in the same study, only 84.1 percent washed their hands with soap and water [13].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Water sanitation and hygiene practices of the indigenous Tharu community in Chitwan, Nepal

Paudel,

Devkota

2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

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Nepal is a multi-ethnic country with cultural diversity according to ethnicity. Culturally rich, the Tharu ethnicity is the fourth largest ethnic group. Sanitation and hygiene are integral parts of their culture. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are fundamental for everyone. This study aims to identify the WASH practices and situation of diarrhoeal diseases among the Tharu ethnic group in the Chitwan district of Nepal. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used for the study. The study area and ethnic group were selected randomly. Primary data were collected using an interview schedule and observation checklist. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 24. The findings confirmed that all households clean their yards, and about 9 in 10 (87.5%) respondents have dustbins in their households. Almost all (98.8%) clean their kitchen utensils twice daily, and 96.8 percent use ash or soap as a cleaning agent. Nearly all (99.7%) households have a toilet (92.8% water seal), whereas 75.3 percent use water, brush, and cleaning agents, and 96.8 percent use separate slippers in the toilet. All the respondents wash their hands with soap before eating food and after defecation. Almost all (95.7%) wash their hands with soap after cleaning yards, 92.5 percent after cleaning the child’s bottom, 91.5 percent after touching cow dung, 89.9 percent after agricultural work, 73.1 percent after feeding the child, and 90.7 percent after cleaning the toilet. The study shows that 46.3 percent of women and girls use commercial sanitary pads during menstruation, and 43.7 percent use pieces of cloth as pads. About half (49.6%) clean their genitals four or more times daily, whereas nine in ten (92.6%) respondents take a bath four or more times during the menstrual period, and 76.8 percent use soap as a cleaning agent. In the previous year, only 26.1 percent of respondents’ families suffered from diarrhea; however, nobody was infected by cholera. The study suggests that socioeconomic status and contextual factors must be improved to strengthen and sustain WASH practices. Including good WASH practices of indigenous Tharu people in the local curriculum could motivate them to empower and develop further good practices, which is possible through the school curriculum, which the local and federal governments mandate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Water sanitation and hygiene practices of the indigenous Tharu community in Chitwan, Nepal

Paudel,

Devkota

2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

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“…The sample size was calculated using the standard statistical formula presented by Yamane, 1967 14 S = boldz 2 × p × ( 1 − p ) bolde 2 for the infinite population. The procedure which was used to compute the sample size is presented in appendix section (see Appendix A).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene on Health Status Among Basic Level Students’ in Nepal

Sharma

Adhikari

2022

Environ�Health�Insights

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Background: Access to drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) at schools are the basic determinants of a child’s right to healthy and quality education. In Nepal, most of the schools had limited WASH facilities, including separate sanitation facilities for girls. The limited WASH facilities, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and hygiene practices result in irresponsible behaviors that directly impede on students’ health. This study examines the association between WASH services and health status of basic level students’, ranging sixth to eighth grades. In Nepal, basic level education consists up to eighth standards from grade 1. Methods: The study applies causal-comparative research design within 2 groups; 1 having improved WASH and another without improved WASH services at the schools in Dhanusha and Chitwan districts of Nepal. Each group consists 2 schools, so altogether 4 schools were included in this study. Total 768, equal 384 respondents were selected from each improved and without improved WASH facilities. The study was conducted in between January and March 2021 at a single-phase time. The sample size was calculated using the standard statistical formula for the infinite population. The study applied quantitative research method, including 3 sorts of analysis; univariate, bivariate, and the multivariate. The univariate was applied to analyze the frequency and percentages of the respondents. Bivariate analysis was made applying chi2 test in order to show the association between 2 variables, whereas the multivariate logistic regression was performed through multilevel modeling to show the effects of school WASH facilities on students’ health status. Results: Out of 768 students’, 384 (50%) were from improved and 384 (50%) were from unimproved WASH facilities at schools. More than two third (64%) of respondents from the unimproved and higher than two fifth (41%) from the improved schools got sickness ( P <.001). Further, three fifth (59%) of respondents aged 15 to 19 and higher than half (51%) of respondents ages of 10 to 14 years got sickness ( P <.05). Most (57%) of the female respondents had sickness compared to males (47%), ( P <.05). More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents from Dalit and nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents from Brahmin/Chhetri-Terai more often found being sick in unimproved schools compared to other castes (55%), Janajati (43%), and Brahmin/Chhetri-Hill (39%) ( P <.001). The school WASH services has significant effect (cOR = 0.388, CI; 290-0.519, P <.001) on students health status, even adjusting other socio-covariates (aOR = .442, CI; 0.302-0.646, P <.001). The female respondents were more likely to fall sick (aOR = 678, CI; 0.502-0.915, P <.01) compared to the male respondents keeping all other variables constant in the model. Conclusion: The study recommends to extend WASH awareness program to school families, particularly to the students as there is an evident need to increase preventive as well as the therapeutic efficacy of the potential infections.

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“…for an infinite population (Sharma et al, 2021). So, the calculated sample size was 384; however, to make a more representative sample and minimize sampling errors , the calculated sample size was multiplied by the design effect of two.…”

Section: Sample Size and Sampling Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene on the School Absenteeism of Basic Level Students in the Government School of Nepal

Sharma

Adhikari

2022

Front. Educ.

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This study assesses the effect of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services on students’ absenteeism in government basic schools for 10–19 years old in Nepal. This study applied an ex post facto research design on two groups of students: with and without improved school WASH services. This study showed that students in schools with improved WASH services were more likely to be regular in attendance (80%) compared to those without (58%), p < 0.001. There was an association between students’ school absenteeism and student grades, p < 0.05. Moreover, the caste, religion, and grades of students were also associated with students’ school absenteeism, p < 0.001. The analysis further showed that students with improved WASH were more likely to be regular [crude odds ratios (COR) = 0.353; 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.256–0.487, p < 0.001] than those without. This trend was maintained across all demographics. It was significant even after the inclusion of all sociodemographic characteristics and increased rapidly [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.508; 95% CI; 0.334–0.773, p < 0.01]. The Brahmin/Chhetri-Terai and the Dalit students were more likely to be absent (COR = 0.315; 95% CI; 0.153–0.648, p < 0.01 and AOR = 0.274; 95% CI; 0.139–0.542, p < 0.001, respectively) than Brahmin/Chhetri-Hill, Janajati, and other castes. This study underscores the importance of WASH services in schools in reducing students’ school absenteeism. Access to WASH services is recommended with several awareness programs to reduce absenteeism and increase students’ school regularity.

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Association between Handwashing Knowledge and Practices among the Students in Nepal

Cited by 8 publications

References 9 publications

Water sanitation and hygiene practices of the indigenous Tharu community in Chitwan, Nepal

Water sanitation and hygiene practices of the indigenous Tharu community in Chitwan, Nepal

Effect of School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene on Health Status Among Basic Level Students’ in Nepal

Effects of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene on the School Absenteeism of Basic Level Students in the Government School of Nepal

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