Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices in handhygiene of students in biological sciences from Felix Houphouët-Boigny University of Cocody (Abidjan-Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors, analyze and compare their effects on student hygiene behavior at Felix Houphouet-Boigny University. It is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, initially covering 333 students in the second and third year of Training and Research Unit of Biosciences from University Felix Houphouet-Boigny enrolled during the university year in 2015-2016. A total of 318 out of 333 students Interviewed or 95.49% attending the toilets. The majority of the students questioned, 219 (65.76%), had poor hand hygiene practices. There is a non-significant difference between hand hygiene practice and gender (p = 0.16). A staff of 325 students questioned out of 333 or 97.59% denounced a lack of toilets. 95.49% of them are aware of the handwashing procedure. The toilets are also used by girls and boys. We note an insignificant difference between toilet use and sex (p = 0.76). The correct practice of handwashing is not practiced by the students of Training and Research Unit of Biosciences; this was confirmed by direct observation. In the area of toilet surveys, lacks of hygiene equipment and inadequate toilets have been reported. Understanding the challenges of hand hygiene practice in academic may help in the development of hand hygiene promotion strategies for the prevention of infections, especially those that are handled. The promotion of hand hygiene should start with health education.