Tóm tắt
Background: Improvement in hand hygiene behavior is one of the most important and cost- effective barriers to infectious diseases. This study described the practice, frequency of practice and identified factors associated with handwashing practice of undergraduate students in a Nigerian tertiary institution.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 345 undergraduate students in Southwest Nigeria selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Data collection was done using a semistructured, self–administered pre-tested questionnaire. Standard handwashing technique was determined using the total scores for handwashing under running water; with soap; for at least 15 seconds and washing the palms, back of palms, fingers, web spaces and wrists. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were done with p-value set at <0.05.
Results: Majority 280 (81.9%) of the students wash hands regularly but only 146 (52.5%) practiced standard handwashing technique. A higher proportion of female students practiced standard handwashing (p=0.034). Enabling factors significantly associated with handwashing practices included imitation of friends (p=0.021); knowledge that handwashing prevents diseases (p=0.011); teachings from parents (p=0.034); disgust for feces (p=0.020) and handwashing practice believed to enhance social status (p<0.001) while statistically significant de-motivational factors included forgetfulness (p=0.028), lack of soap (p=0.012) and lack of time to spare (p=0.034).
Conclusion: The practice of standard handwashing is poor amongst undergraduate students in south-west Nigeria with significant gender disparities. University communities need to initiate programs and develop strategies that will encourage the practice and remove all possible barriers.
Keywords: Handwashing practice, undergraduate students, enabling factors, de-motivational factors
Résumé
Contexte: L’amélioration du comportement en matière d’hygiène des mains est l’un des obstacles les plus importants et les plus rentables aux maladies infectieuses. Cette étude a décrit la pratique, la fréquence de la pratique et les facteurs identifiés associés à la pratique du lavage des mains chez des étudiants en licence dans un établissement d’enseignement supérieur nigérian.
Méthodes: Une étude transversale descriptive a été menée auprès de 345 étudiants en licence au sud-ouest du Nigéria sélectionnés à l’aide d’une technique d’échantillonnage à plusieurs étapes. La collecte des données a été réalisée à l’aide d’un questionnaire semi-structuré auparavant testé et auto-administré. La technique standard de lavage des mains a été déterminée en utilisant les scores totaux pour le lavage des mains sous l’eau courante; avec du savon; pendant au moins 15 secondes et laver les paumes, l’arrière des paumes, les doigts, les espaces de la bande et les poignets. Les données collectées ont été analysées à l’aide de la version 17 de SPSS. Les tests statistiques descriptifs et déductifs ont été effectués avec une valeur p fixée à <0,05.
Résultats: La majorité (280) (81,9%) des élèves se lavent les mains régulièrement, mais seulement 146 (52,5%) pratiquent la technique de lavage des mains standard. Une proportion plus élevée d’étudiantes pratiquait le lavage des mains standard (p = 0,034). Les facteurs favorables significativement associés aux pratiques de lavage des mains incluaient l’imitation des amis (p = 0,021); savoir que le lavage des mains prévient les maladies (p = 0,011); enseignements des parents (p = 0,034); dégoût pour les excréments (p = 0,020) et les pratiques de lavage des mains censées améliorer le statut social (p <0,001) tandis que les facteurs démotivants statistiquement significatifs incluaient l’oubli (p = 0,028), le manque de savon (p = 0,012) et le manque de temps (p = 0,034).
Conclusion: La pratique du lavage des mains standard est médiocre chez les étudiants en licence au sudouest du Nigeria, avec d’importantes disparités entre les sexes. Les communautés universitaires doivent lancer des programmes et développer des stratégies qui encourageront la pratique et élimineront tous les obstacles possibles.
Mots clés: Pratique du lavage des mains, étudiants en licence, facteurs favorables, facteurs de demotivation
Correspondence: Dr. O.T. Esan, Department of Community Health, OAU, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. E-mail: seunkayo@yahoo.com
Tài liệu tham khảo
White C, Kolble R, Carlson R, et al. The effect of hand hygiene on illness rate among students in university residence halls. American Journal of Infection Control. 2003;31(6):364-370.
Azor-Martínez E, Cobos-Carrascosa E, Gimenez-Sanchez F, et al. Effectiveness of a multifactorial handwashing program to reduce school absenteeism due to acute gastroenteritis. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2014;33(2):e34-e9.
Azor-Martínez E, Gonzalez-Jimenez Y, Seijas-Vazquez ML, et al. The impact of common infections on school absenteeism during an academic year. American Journal of Infection Control. 2014;42(6):632-367.
Assefa M and Kumie A. Assessment of factors influencing hygiene behaviour among school children in Mereb-Leke District, Northern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2014;14(1):1.
Unicef. Towards better programming: a water handbook. Water, environment and sanitation technical guidelines, series. 2: UNICEF; 1999.
Willmott M, Nicholson A, Busse H, MacArthur GJ, Brookes S and Campbell R. Effectiveness of hand hygiene interventions in reducing illness absence among children in educational settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2015:archdischild-2015-308875.
WHO. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care. First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care is Safer Care. 2009. World Health Organization, 2013.
CDC. Clean Hands Saves Lives: When & How to Wash Your Hands Atlanta, USA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2012 [updated Accessed: May 17, 2016]. Available from: Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html.
CDC. Global Handwashing Day Atlanta, USA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2015 [Accessed: May 17, 2016]. Available from: Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/features/globalhandwashing/index.html.
Bartram J and Cairncross S. Hygiene, sanitation, and water: forgotten foundations of health. PLoS Med. 2010;7(11):e1000367.
Luby SP, Agboatwalla M, Feikin DR, et al. Effect of handwashing on child health: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2005; 366 (9481):
-233.
Borchgrevink CP, Cha J and Kim S. Handwashing practices in a college town environment. Journal of Environmental Health. 2013;75(8):18.
Sultana M, Mahumud RA, Sarker AR and SM H. Hand hygiene knowledge and practice among university students: evidence from Private Universities of Bangladesh. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy. 2016;9:13.
Rose-Innes O. How often do you wash your hands? Health 24. 2012 Accessed: May 17,2016.
Drankiewicz D, Dundes L. Handwashing among female college students. American Journal of Infection Control. 2003;31(2):67-71.
Herbert VG, Schlumm P, Kessler HH and Frings A. Knowledge of and adherence to hygiene guidelines among medical students in Austria. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases. 2013;2013.
Anderson JL, Warren CA, Perez E, et al. Gender and ethnic differences in hand hygiene practices among college students. American Journal of Infection Control. 2008;36(5):361-368.