Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study

Berhanu, Ashenafi; Mengistu, Dechasa Adare; Temesgen, Liku Muche; Mulat, Salie; Dirirsa, Gebisa; Alemu, Fekade Ketema; Mangasha, Adane Ermias; Gobena, Tesfaye; Geremew, Abraham

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.975507

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“… 20 , 21 An institutional-based cross-sectional study that was conducted to assess handwashing practice of students in 6 public primary schools in Harar town, the capital of Harari Regional State in eastern Ethiopia, reported lower handwashing practice at critical times such as 13.3% after using the toilet and 51.3% before eating. 22 Besides, more than half of the students were washing their hands for less than 20 seconds, indicating insufficient practice. According to, 23 32% of primary school children in Sebeta town, Oromia Regional State (Ethiopia), which is adjacent to Addis Ababa City, practiced proper handwashing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Handwashing Practices and Associated Factors Among School Children in Kirkos and Akaki Kality Sub-Cities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Melaku

Addis

2023

Environ�Health�Insights

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Background: Provision of handwashing facilities and proper practices are essential for preventing fecal-oral and acute respiratory infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to assess availability of handwashing facilities and predictors to students’ good hygiene practices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A mixed-methods study design was conducted in schools of Addis Ababa from January to March 2020 in 384 students, 98 school directors, 6 health clubs, and 6 school administrators. Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires, interview guide, and observational checklists. The quantitative data were entered into EPI Info version 7.2.2.6 and analyzed using SPSS 22.0. A bivariable at P < .2 and multivariable logistic regression analysis at P < .05 for quantitative and thematic analysis for qualitative data were used. Results: Handwashing stations were available in 85 (86.7%) of the schools. However, 16 (16.3%) schools had neither water nor soap near the handwashing facilities while 33 (38.8%) of schools had both. There was no high school that had both soap and water. Approximately one-third (135, 35.2%) of students practiced proper handwashing, among which 89 (65.9%) were from private schools. The handwashing practices were significantly associated with gender (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: (1.66-3.59)), having trained coordinator (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: (1.32-2.48)) and health education program (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: (1.73-3.59)), school ownership (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: (0.33-0.72)), and training (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: (1.82-3.69)). Water supply interruption, and lack of budget, adequate space, training, health education, maintenance, and coordination were the main barriers that prevent students from practicing proper handwashing. Conclusions: Handwashing facilities and materials provision and good handwashing practices of students were low. Moreover, providing soap and water for handwashing was insufficient to promote good hygiene practices. There should be regular hygiene education, training, maintenance, and better coordination among stakeholders to create a healthy school environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Handwashing Practices and Associated Factors Among School Children in Kirkos and Akaki Kality Sub-Cities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Melaku

Addis

2023

Environ�Health�Insights

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“…Children need to be taught these habits, by parents, teachers, health workers, and they need access to hand washing facilities. [8][9][10] In our study, the most common presenting symptoms were fever, anorexia and neuropsychiatric symptoms including confusion, delirium and agitation and headache. Although headache is relatively common in some paediatric studies, neuropsychiatric symptoms are rarely reported in children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…Children are at increased risk of contracting typhoid because they are less likely to wash their hands prior to eating and after using the toilet. Children need to be taught these habits, by parents, teachers, health workers, and they need access to hand washing facilities 8–10 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Typhoid fever in children in Goroka, Papua New Guinea

Ruape,

Mond,

Toroi

et al. 2024

J Paediatrics Child Health

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BackgroundTyphoid is endemic in many low‐income countries, including in Papua New Guinea. This study aimed to describe the burden and clinical features of typhoid in children in a provincial hospital, to describe environmental conditions that lead to typhoid, and to document the antibiotic sensitivity of Salmonella spp. in the Eastern Highlands Province.MethodsA combined retrospective and prospective study of children admitted to with clinical features of typhoid to the Goroka Hospital throughout 2022.ResultsThe study included 98 children, of which 54% were female. The median age was 8 (IQR 5–10.6) years. Over 60% of the patients were from Goroka District, the peri‐urban area encompassing the town and surrounds. Ninety‐four percent (92) of the patients used a pit latrine as a toilet and only 28% had access to treated water. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were common (60%), as was leukopenia (48%), thrombocytopenia (52%) and anaemia (42%). Thirty‐seven patients had positive blood cultures for Salmonella typhi; all isolates were sensitive to third‐generation cephalosporins, pefloxacin, ampicillin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, and only 54% sensitive to chloramphenicol. The median duration of hospitalisation was 6 days (IQR). There were no deaths.ConclusionPrompt public health actions are needed to reduce the burden of typhoid infection in the Papua New Guinea. The conjugate typhoid vaccine should be considered in the highlands region, where typhoid is most endemic.

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“…Hand washing is incredibly important for preventing illnesses and schools are thought to be the best location to inculcate this habit in childhood. Most students in this study (64.12%) were female, the majority of students in another study of the same sort (56.9%) were female 22 . The survey found that 69.7% of schoolchildren practiced good hand washing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Hand Washing Practice among Secondary School Students in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

Sultana,

Akhter,

Salim

et al. 2024

Eastern Med. Coll. J.

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Background: Human hands play a significant role in the spread of diseases, especially respiratory and diarrheal diseases, which continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Hand washing is the most widely used preventive measure to lessen the spread of infectious diseases. It involves washing hands with ordinary or antimicrobial soap and water. This is especially important for school-age children, since they may be more susceptible to diseases associated with poor hygiene than adults’ age. There is evidence linking the promotion of hand washing habits through health education to a lower incidence of communicable diseases in school-age children. Objectives: To determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and to find out the practice of hand washing among the secondary school children. Materials & Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 340 school students from 1st June 2022 to 30th November 2022 in Alekjan Memorial High School and College, Durgapur, Adarsha Sadar, Cumilla. Purposive sampling was used to gather all pertinent data using a structured questionnaire. Results: In schools, 69.7% of the respondents washed their hands properly. 96.7% of them used soap to wash their hands. About 98.2%, 95%, 86.8%, 82.9% and 80.3% of school children reported that they wash their hands before eating, after using the restroom, after eating, after playing and after working. Conclusion: According to the study, having access to soap and water is necessary for good hand washing technique as the majority of the students used soap during hand washing. By installing hand washing stations in schools, the regional government, that is, the education and health bureaus-should enhance the hand washing practices in schools. It is important for parents and other family members to focus more on behavior guidance related to hand washing. Eastern Med Coll J. July 2023; 8 (2): 40-44

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Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study

Cited by 17 publications

References 23 publications

Handwashing Practices and Associated Factors Among School Children in Kirkos and Akaki Kality Sub-Cities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Handwashing Practices and Associated Factors Among School Children in Kirkos and Akaki Kality Sub-Cities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Typhoid fever in children in Goroka, Papua New Guinea

Hand Washing Practice among Secondary School Students in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

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