Impact of change in household hygiene conditions on morbidity in India: Evidence from longitudinal survey

N Brahmanandam,R Nagarajan

doi:10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100793

N Brahmanandam, R Nagarajan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100793

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Abstract

The maintenance of good hygiene is more important to prevent communicable and infectious diseases. Therefore, the main aim of this study to assess the impact of change in household hygiene conditions on morbidity. The results from multivariate linear regression have shown that the percentage share of households members fell sick due to any short term morbidity were significantly higher (β = 0.053, P < 0.001) among the households who had lived in the poor hygiene conditions in both years in 2005 and 2011 compared to the households who were lived in the better-off hygienic condition in both years in 2005 and 2011 after controlling various socio-economic variables. The household members who fell sick due to any short term morbidity had significantly declined (β = −0.028, P < 0.04) among the households who were lived in the poor condition in 2005, but transformed into better off hygienic condition as a compared to the households who were lived in the poor hygienic condition in both years in 2005 and 2011. Similarly, the results from multinomial logistic regression shown that prevalence of any short term morbidity was significantly less likely among the households who were livid remain in the better-off hygienic condition in both years in 2005 and 2011 (2.8%; p < 0.01) as compared to other households who were lived remain in the poor hygiene conditions in 2005 and 2011 (4.8%). Findings of this study suggest that not only improve the water and sanitation facilities which are prerequisites for hygiene but also improve the hygienic behavior of the households through social media.

Highlights

Hygiene is defined as conditions and practices that help prevent the spread of the disease and promote better health and well-being of the population.[1]
The results from multinomial logistic regression shown that prevalence of any short term morbidity was significantly less likely among the households who were livid remain in the better-off hygienic condition in both years in 2005 and 2011 (2.8%; p < 0.01) as compared to other households who were lived remain in the poor hygiene conditions in 2005 and 2011 (4.8%)
The previous studies have been suggested that better hygienic practices through handwashing with soap, food protection, and domestic hygiene brought a reduction in infant diarrhea by 33%.3,4, Practicing hygiene is difficult without clean water and sanitation

Summary

Introduction

Hygiene is defined as conditions and practices that help prevent the spread of the disease and promote better health and well-being of the population.[1]. The lack of clean water and improved sanitation facilities, poor hygienic practices, the low hygienic status of shared sanitation facilities, fecal contamination in water, as well as inadequate handwashing practices causes diarrhea among children below five years in developing countries.[3,4,5] Handwashing with soap (HWWS) has a significant effect on health and reduced diarrhea. Several studies were found that a one-third reduction of diarrhea episodes among the children after community intervention of hygienic practices in low and middle-income countries.[6,7,8,9]. Average percentage of household members with short term morbidity by change of the household hygienic behavior

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Discussion

Conclusion