Abstract

Hand hygiene habits and the knowledge of their health implications were investigated among students of a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey guided by twenty research questions and four research hypotheses was carried out. A total of 400 undergraduates were randomly selected across the five colleges in the University. The highest respondents were of less than 20 years of age (74%), followed by 21-25 years (25%). Two hundred and four (51%) of the respondents claimed that water which is vital to hand hygiene habit is scarce, 124 (31%) wash hands before meal only, 96(24%) wash hands after toileting, however, 368 (92%) had knowledge that good handwashing habit prevents diseases and infestations. Massive campaigns and awareness are subjacent to improve the culture and habit of hand-washing. Hygiene education should be introduced in all academic curricula to guide in the prevention of the rapid spread of epidemics of which hand seems the first contact of disease infestation.

Highlights

  • It is a fact that washing of hands brings about hand hygiene, and this is well known as one of the most significant activities essential for the reduction of transmission of infectious diseases in the hospitals, (Zapka et al, 2017)

  • Hand hygiene habits and the knowledge of their health implications were investigated among students of a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria

  • Two hundred and four (51%) of the respondents claimed that water which is vital to hand hygiene habit is scarce, 124 (31%) wash hands before meal only, 96(24%) wash hands after toileting, 368 (92%) had knowledge that good handwashing habit prevents diseases and infestations

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Summary

Introduction

It is a fact that washing of hands brings about hand hygiene, and this is well known as one of the most significant activities essential for the reduction of transmission of infectious diseases in the hospitals, (Zapka et al, 2017). The poor level of public hygiene in developing countries Nigeria inclusive, is as a result of poor faeces disposal, inadequate knowledge of good sanitation practice, lack of infrastructure, such as pipe borne water and electricity, making water not readily availabile. This is a fact corroborated by Curtis et al, (2003) that at the end of 20th century, two billion people still have inadequate access to proper sanitation with one billion without enough water to drink

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