Knowledge and practice of handwashing with soap among mothers of children aged under 11 in some mountainous provinces in Vietnam, 2019

Abstract

Handwashing with soap (HWWS) practice among mothers is critical in preventing childhood illnesses. This study aims to describe HWWS knowledge and practice among mothers of children aged under 11 and associated factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 319 mothers in 4 provinces in Vietnam, namely Dien Bien, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, and Dak Lak, representing the region Northern Mountains and Central Highlands 2019. Knowledge of HWWS is measured through questionnaire interviews. HWWS practice is measured by the “Sticker Diary” method. Results show that while the proportion of mothers with knowledge on HWWS after defecation/toilet/using latrine is 84.6%, only 19.4% of mothers said that they need to HWWS after cleaning a child’s bottom/child’s feces, 17.6% before feeding children, and 39.2% HWWS before cooking/serving food. Less than 50% of mothers practice washing their hands with soap at critical times. The study shows a signifcant association between attributes such as educational level, occupation, economic status, and knowledge of HWWS. The study also fnds an association between the ethnic group, fnancial situation, knowledge, and practice HWWS among mothers of children under age 11.