EVALUATING KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF HAND WASHING MESSAGES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE

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The study examined the Knowledge and Practice of handwashing messages among Secondary School Students in Anambra State, Nigeria. The essence is to enhance the spread of infections like diarrhoea, Ebola and other diseases associated with dirty hands and contacts. It is premised against the background that students live, and interact closely and there is the need to control the spread of bacteria among these students through proper handwashing. The objectives include; to determine whether the respondents’ know about handwashing messages; the respondents’ source of handwashing messages and to determine whether the respondents practice handwashing after exposure to handwashing messages. The study was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Theory of Reasoned Action. It also adopted a survey research method with the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The study used multi-stage sampling techniques to select three schools from the three senatorial districts in Anambra State. The total population for the study was 121,087 junior secondary school students from where a sample of 384 respondents was studied. Descriptive statistical tools - mean, frequencies and percentages were used in answering research questions. Results showed that there was no significant relationship between the knowledge of handwashing messages and the practice of handwashing. Results further showed that respondents had experience of handwashing messages. Sequel to the findings, the researcher recommended, among others, the need to mobilize handwashing with soap and water at critical times to ensure greater compliance.