A study to assess the knowledge regarding hand hygiene practice among secondary school going children in selected schools of Pune city

Abstract

Hand hygiene practice is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. Good hand hygiene reduces the risk of flu, food poisoning and health care associated infections passed from person to person. Although maintaining hand hygiene practice is very important for all of us but it is more important to teach the children about hand hygiene practice because they are at increased risk for getting infection as they are grouped together and their immunity system is not fully developed. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Pune (West of India). 150 samples were collected from schools for the study. The questionnaire consist of 30 items and two section (demographic information and knowledge score about hand hygiene practice). Demographic data of the sample was statistically analysed by using frequency and percentage it was observed that (2.67%) children are having poor knowledge, (8%) children are having average knowledge, (21.33%) children are having good knowledge and (68%) children are having excellent knowledge of hand hygiene practice.There is no association between knowledge and selected demographic variables (Age, Gender, Mother’s education, Father’s education, Mother’s occupation, Father’s occupation, from where did children learn about hand hygiene practice? How many times a day children wash their hands?)