Impact of Domestic Environment & Personal Hygiene on Morbidity Pattern and Health Status of Children: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study in Surendranagar City.

Abstract

Introduction: Children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental risks, both physical and psychosocial, because of factors related to the development and growing up. Comprehensive risk assessments suggest a cluster of environmental hazards, many of which may concur in the places where children dwell, play and learn. With this background, current study can help to improve hygiene practices and thereby health of children. Objectives: To ind the prevalence of various childhood morbidities and to assess the relationship of personal hygiene and domestic environmental factors with childhood its morbidity pattern and health status. Method: A cross sectional study was carried out in Surendranagar, including 210 children (5 to 14 years) selected by cluster sampling method. Results: Prevalence of morbidity among children was 82.38%. About 89% of students brushed their teeth once/day; for brushing, 70% used toothbrush and 97% used toothpaste. Majority (84%) of participants were taking bath daily while only 48% were using soap daily for bathing. Hygiene score was more in normal weight individuals as compared underweight and overweight participants and this difference was statistically signi icant. (p=0.00001) Various domestic environmental factors like type of house (p=0.03), presence of exhaust fan/window in kitchen (p=0.003) drinking water facility (p=0.02), size of house (p=0.02), cross ventilation (p=0.0003) and mosquito presence (p=0.007) were all signi icantly associated with presence of morbidity. Conclusion: The results of the present study conirm that there is great effect of personal hygiene practices and domestic environmental factors on morbidity pattern of children.