Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Hand Washing and Associated Factors among Public Primary School Children in Hosanna Town, Snnpr, Ethiopia 2016
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Date
2016-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Back ground: - The burden of communicable diseases within developing countries is mainlyinfluenced by poor personal hygiene practices and inadequate sanitary conditions that affecthealth of school children. Hand washing with soap (HWWS) is simple and cost effectivemeasure to prevent transmission of many communicable diseases in school-age children.
Despite substantial evidence about the effectiveness of hand washing, especially using soapat all critical time, the practice is poor in developing countries including Ethiopia. Theproblem is not researched well on children who are major risk groups for diarrheal diseases,ARI and other hygiene related problems. This school based cross sectional study focused ondescribing KAP of school children provides base line information on the area.
Objective: - To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of hand washing and associatedfactors among primary school children in Hosanna town, SNNPR, Ethiopia.
Methods: - Institution based cross sectional study was conducted in sample size of 246students in Girma Bekele primary school in Hosanna town from April 15 -30/2016.Data wascollected using interviewer administered pre tasted structured questionnaires by trained datacollectors.
Result: - From students participated in this study over all 167(69.9%) students have good and72 (30.1%) have poor knowledge. Knowledge of students in this primary school is affectedby grade of student and area of residence with (AOR, 95% CI 9.099(.587-.850) and(AOR.384; 95% CI (.114-.299)) respectively. Regarding the attitude of students 142(59.4%)and 97(40.6%) have good and poor attitude respectively. Overall 172(71.97%) of studentshave good practice and 67 (28.03%) have poor practice toward hand washing.
Conclusion:-Majority of the study subjects has adequate knowledge and about more thanhalf of them have positive attitude. Overall practice of HW is good but utilization of soap andHW after toilet visit is low. Maternal educational status, area of residence, age, sex and gradeof student are factors that affect KAP of school children toward hand washing with soap.
Recommendations:-The area should have to be further researched to identify where the gapis like food handlers condition at home, interpersonal contacts, school environment andplaying area and materials and any launches conditions near the school; because irrespectiveof good knowledge level of student the prevalence of diarrhea is still high and hand washingafter toilet visit and soap utilization of students is still low.
Key words: primary school children, hand washing, knowledge, attitude and practice.
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primary school children Hand washing Knowledge Attitude and practice