Knowledge and practice regarding personal hygiene among students of government schools of Bikaner, Rajasthan

Abstract

Introduction: If good personal hygiene since childhood is not maintained, it will leads to various contagious diseases like gastroenteritis, skin infections etc. So present study was done to assess knowledge and practice regarding personal hygiene in school going children.Methodology: this cross sectional study was conducted on 1008 students of 6th to 12th class from government schools of Bikaner. A semi-structured Performa was used.Result: More than 90% students had knowledge about body, clothes and teeth hygiene, 46% about use of toilet paper and 29.8% about sanitary pad. More than 90% bath, brush teeth every day, hand wash before meal and after using toilet. Less than 70% hand wash after handling animal, cutting nails. Major source of knowledge in students was schools (71%).Conclusion: A good knowledge and practice was found regarding certain points but still more awareness and promotion are necessary for better personal hygiene in students.