Hygiene Attitudes Research Articles

Knowledge, attitude and practice of food hygiene and safety among food vendors in a rural tertiary health facility in south South Nigeria

Background: Food hygiene and safety is a public health concern that requires the practices to prevent microbial and other contaminants of food from production to consumption. Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: One hundred (100) food handlers/vendors from ten food premises within the teaching hospital environment were interviewed using a semi-structured validated questionnaire. All food handlers/vendors who consented to participate in the study were interviewed (total population). Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Statistical significance was set at 95% confidence level with p<0.05. Results were presented in tables and charts. Results: One hundred (100) participants were interviewed and of this, 44% were cooks and 67% had good knowledge of food hygiene and safety. Majority (70%) had positive attitude towards food hygiene and safety and about half (53%) had good practice of food hygiene and safety. Majority of those who had work experience of 26 years and above (77.8%) had good practice and positive attitude (88.9%) towards food hygiene and safety. More with no formal education (62.5%) had good practice of food hygiene and safety but this association was found not to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Two third of the respondents had good knowledge of food hygiene and safety with majority of them having positive attitude. This positive attitude and good knowledge of the respondents did not quite translate to good practice as only about half of them had good practice of food hygiene and safety.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Hygiene among Grade Nine and Ten Students in Government School of Jumla.

Personal hygiene is crucial for a healthy life, especially for school children who are more susceptible to diseases due to poor hygiene. This study was design to determine the existing knowledge, attitude and practice of personal hygiene among secondary students of grade nine and ten of a government school of Jumla. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a Government Secondary school situated in a rural area of Jumla. A total of 368 adolescent girls and boys from classes nine and ten were included. Data were collected using pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS version 16. The Chi-square test was applied to compare the proportions of quantitative variables. Among the 368 students, 43.3% were male and 52.7% were female, with a mean age of 14.98 ± 1.34 years. The study found that 94.8% had good knowledge, 82.3% had a positive attitude towards personal hygiene, and 63.6% practiced good personal hygiene. Participants with a positive attitude towards personal hygiene demonstrated a higher percentage of good hygiene practices. However, there was no statistically significant association between knowledge and attitude on personal hygiene. The study revealed that the majority of the students had a good level of personal hygiene knowledge. Boys appeared to be more knowledgeable than the girls; though these knowledge and attitude were not reflected in their practices. The study proposed that health education should focus on enhancing the attitude and practice to improve hygiene among rural youth.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Food Hygiene among Mothers from Rural Communities in Malawi

This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to food hygiene among mothers from Malawi’s rural communities against the WHO Five Keys to Safer Food (WHO-FKSF) and good pre-and post-harvest practices (GPPHPs) as reference points. Five hundred twenty-two mothers from six rural communities across two districts were selected for the survey. The results indicated limited knowledge among participating mothers regarding managing food hazards, including mycotoxins, bacteria, viruses, and parasites (BVPs). A significant proportion (89.5%) of women reported inconsistent or no handwashing with soap after using the toilet. In addition, 48.7% failed to plant with the first good rains, 38.7% neglected to check for moldy cobs during harvesting, 57.4% dried maize on bare soil, and 99.2% bought maize with noticeable mold. Higher education, knowledge, and positive attitudes were associated with enhanced BVP control practices, while larger households and positive attitudes were linked to improved mold/mycotoxin management (p < 0.05). Mothers showed lower (p < 0.05) knowledge and attitude levels regarding molds than BVPs but demonstrated relatively better practices for mold control. A comprehensive education program based on the WHO Five Keys to Safer Foods, tailored to local socio-cultural norms and incorporating mold and mycotoxin management guidelines, is recommended.

Associations between Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior with Helminthiasis in Children

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infection is currently one of the highest prevalence neglected tropical diseases in children. Factors contributing to such case are children’s hygiene, as well as the existence of helminths in the surrounding soil. A child’s education has large influence on their behavior and attitude towards hygiene. However, previous studies showed varying results on wether hygiene affects the rate of STH infection. Therefore, this research is done to determine whether there is significant association between hygiene and STH infection in children. This observational analysis with a cross-sectional design was conducted on elementary school children by interviewing the children and obtaining fecal samples. Analysis of 197 fecal samples shows that 14.7% of the children were infected with STH and results of the interview show more children had poor knowledge about STH infection (69%). Good hygiene attitude and behavior were found in the majority of the subjects (58.9% and 81.7% respectively). The chi-square analysis performed shows no significant relation between knowledge (p=0.626), attitude (p=0.975), and behavior (p=0.376) and the incidence of STH infection. In this study, although children demonstrated poor knowledge of STH infection but had good hygiene attitudes and behaviors, there was no significant link between these factors and STH infection. This emphasizes the need for ongoing hygiene education in elementary school children.

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Food Hygiene and Safety Among Street Food Handlers in Kuala Terengganu

This study focuses on the critical factors of food hygiene and safety for street food handlers in Kuala Terengganu. Despite the fundamental importance of proper food handling, inadequate practices pose the risk of foodborne illnesses. The shift towards diverse food choices and increased eating out emphasizes the need for comprehensive evaluation. Street food, a significant income source for many, also brings forth concerns about hygiene and safety. The research aims to contribute insights into the current state of food hygiene and safety in street stalls, providing valuable information for public health initiatives. This study uses a quantitative method, with self-administered questionnaires to measure food handlers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The questionnaire, carefully structured into six sections, covers screening, demographics, food hygiene and safety practices, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Utilizing a 5-point Likert scale, the study seeks to gather nuanced responses for a comprehensive understanding. The research design is descriptive and cross-sectional, providing a snapshot of the situation. The sampling method used is purposive, ensuring the inclusion of relevant perspectives. The study anticipates collecting data from 303 respondents, enhancing the validity and reliability of the findings. Overall, the research aims to address gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among street food handlers, contributing to the reduction of foodborne illnesses.

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of oral health and hygiene among the future health care providers

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of oral health and hygiene among the future health care providers

Predictors of hand hygiene attitudes among Saudi healthcare workers of the intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia

Healthcare-associated infections present a challenge to healthcare systems, particularly critical care units. Hand hygiene emerges as a crucial element in infection control, acting as a vital link between healthcare workers, patients, and pathogens. Positive attitudes, motivated by a genuine concern for patient safety, are recognized as major predictors of hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. This study aims to assess the attitudes of ICU staff toward hand hygiene and identify factors that influence these attitudes. A cross-sectional survey of intensive care unit staff in seven large Saudi hospitals was conducted using an anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire to examine the attitudes of ICU personnel about hand hygiene and determine the factors that impact these attitudes. A regression analysis was used to determine the determinants of hand hygiene attitudes. Of the 600 respondents, 93% rated their hand hygiene knowledge as good, and 71% received hand hygiene training from their hospital. Most respondents (78%) had previously experienced healthcare-associated infections. The majority reported a favorable overall attitude toward hand hygiene (M = 4.15, SD = 0.85). Attitudes toward hand hygiene were significantly associated with perceived knowledge (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), prior hand hygiene training (β = 0.13, p < 0.05), and years of experience (β = − 0.10, p < 0.05). Healthcare workers in the ICU have a generally positive attitude toward hand hygiene. Such attitudes were correlated with hand hygiene knowledge, prior training, and job experience. The study’s findings can help to inform health promotion initiatives and campaigns aimed at achieving long-term improvements in hand hygiene behaviors.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Hand Hygiene Among Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and emerging multi-drug resistance in nosocomial pathogens are perceived as a serious public health threat. Hands of healthcare workers (HCWs) become routinely colonized during patient care, serving as vehicles for transmission and leading to HCAIs.Hand hygiene (HH) is a globally accepted tool to avoid the broadcast of dangerous microorganisms and prevent HCAIs. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward HH among the medical students at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, India. A 25-item validated questionnaire survey was formulated and circulated to100 medical students of all four academic years. There were 100 responses to the survey, and 44 (44%) participants performed HH appropriately for 20 seconds with alcohol-based hand rub. In our study, 25％ of the participants revealed that HH practices were not followed during emergencies. Many participants (40%) stated that the lack of sink, soaps, alcohol-based sanitizers, paper towels, and water is the reason for not performing HH. The gross knowledge of HH of the participants is moderate, but there were gaps between the knowledge and practice. Hence, it is essential to conduct structured training sessions and surveillance programs for medical students to address these gaps in knowledge and the correct HH procedures.

Comparative Evaluation of Dental Hygiene Awareness among Student Population Studying in Various Technical and Nontechnical Courses.

Achieving patient compliance is a key goal in oral health, necessitating early education on good dental hygiene practices. This study assesses dental hygiene awareness among college students in various disciplines. A questionnaire focusing on knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to dental hygiene was distributed to 400 students from medical, nursing, engineering, and other undergraduate programs, divided into groups of 100 each. The survey also considered economic backgrounds and oral hygiene behaviors. Responses were collected online, with data analyzed using the Chi-square test and Pearson's coefficient to determine statistical significance (P < 0.05). All collected responses were valid, revealing that most students, primarily from middle- or lower-income groups, have a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding oral hygiene. Over 90% recognize its importance for overall health. While practices were generally good, areas for improvement were identified, alongside an overall positive attitude. However, infrequent dental visits were noted as a concern. Focusing on improving oral hygiene attitudes and practices among the younger generation could have long-term benefits, especially in developing countries aiming for better oral health outcomes.

The Used Masks of The Food Industry Employees During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Did the Mask Promote Other Diseases While Protecting from the Coronavirus? A Survey Study Supported by Microbiological Data

Objective: Use of disposable face masks helps prevent infection by airborne pathogens. The effectiveness of such masks in excluding diseases and contaminants depends on many factors. As a result of misuse, mask loses its protective role and becomes a source of microbial contamination. It is aimed to investigate the attitudes of food workers towards use of masks in proportion to the bacterial load and microorganism species in the masks they wear. Methods: Total aerobic mesophilic, Yeast-mould and Coliform counts were determined as log colony forming units per mL. Phenotypically different colonies grown on three different agar plates were purified and fresh cultures were classified using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Results:In this study, bacterial contamination was found at different levels on all tested (103) disposable face masks. The screened bacterial pathogens by MALDI-TOF MS Bacillus cereus was detected at the highest level 17.86%, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Kurthia gibsonii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with rates 14.29%, 10.72%, 7.14%, and 7.14%, respectively. Long-term working, inappropriate mask usage, poor hygiene attitudes of employees, and the fact that staff wore the mask out of need rather than for its protective advantage all signal that the investigated masks had low microbiological quality. Conclusion:The findings show that because most masks used by food industry employees to protect themselves from COVID-19 and avoid infecting others contain bacteria of intestinal origin, serious health problems may occur in both employees who use contaminated masks and consumers who consume food contaminated by mask contamination.

Конъюнктивиты при использовании глазного протеза. Профилактика и выбор эффективной терапии

Purpose. To determine the causes of inflammatory processes when using ocular prostheses, to develop recommendations for prevention and treatment of inflammation and contraction of the conjunctival cavity in rehabilitation of persons using ocular prostheses. Methods. We have analyzed treatment effectiveness in 62 adult patients: 26 men and 36 women, aged 18–92 years, who applied for ocular prosthetic care in 2023. Operations preceding prosthetics were performed in different medical institutions. The period after surgery ranged from 6 months to 69 years. The time elapsed after the last prosthetics was from 2 months to 69 years. Resultsand discussion. All the patients underwent routine ophthalmic examination. Prosthetics was performed depending on the duration of prosthesis use, the condition of its surface and the correspondence between the shape of the prosthesis and the cavity: selection and adaptation of a standard ocular prosthesis (12 patients); repair of the prosthesis – grinding and polishing (14 patients); manufacturing of an individual ocular prosthesis according to the shape of the cavity, taking into account all the parameters of the paired eye (36 patients). Depending on the conjunctival cavity condition, drug therapy was prescribed. To objectify the assessment of treatment results, all the patients filled out questionnaires, where satisfaction with the comfort of wearing a prosthesis and their own appearance was recorded on a 5-point scale. Three weeks after the end of treatment, the administrator and the doctor called all the patients to clarify the need for correction of the prosthesis shape and medical treatment. Conclusions. The patient is satisfied with the prosthetics when the prosthesis looks like an eye and the patient does not feel discomfort when using the prosthesis. It is possible to achieve an optimal result if the prosthesis corresponds to the appearance of the paired eye, its shape fills and repeats the conjunctival cavity, the prosthesis has a smooth surface. The discrepancy between size and shape of the prosthesis and size and configuration of the cavity, sharp edges of the prosthesis, irregularities and roughness of its surface cause inflammation of the cavity, which is accompanied by an increase of mucous discharge and infection. Appointment of antibacterial or any other drug therapy without restoring smoothness of the prosthesis gives a temporary effect and promotes selection of resistant microorganisms. An ocular prosthesis in 1 year of use loses smoothness of its surface. With the observance of conjunctival cavity hygiene and careful attitude to the prosthesis – regular (1 time per year) repair of a plastic prosthesis, it is possible to extend the period of use of a plastic prosthesis to 4–5 years without complications and inconveniences. Key words: ocular prosthesis; conjunctivitis; anophthalmos; microphthalmos; subatrophy; preventive repair; timely prosthesis replacement.

Educational Intervention on Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Attitude among Adolescent Girls in Dehradun: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Adolescence embodies the complex biological changes of human growth, featuring swift physical and psychological maturation toward adult form. Remarkably, many girls undergo puberty before seven, with black girls often experiencing it earlier than white peers. The study aims to assess the impact of educational intervention on knowledge and attitude regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls at selected schools in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The study revealed that the pretest knowledge score had a mean of 15.94 with a standard deviation 5.55. In contrast, the post-test knowledge score significantly increased, with a mean of 17.66 and a standard deviation of 5.35. The mean difference of 1.722 between the pretest and post-test scores was statistically significant, as indicated by the t-value of 19.259 (p &lt; 0.01). The pretest attitude score had a mean of 12.56 with a standard deviation of 2.48. In contrast, the post-test attitude score exhibited a notable increase, with a mean of 15.38 and a standard deviation of 3.26. The mean difference (MD) of 2.82 between the pretest and post-test scores was found to be highly statistically significant, as indicated by the t-value of 10.759 (p &lt; 0.001). Hence, the null hypothesis is rejected, and the alternate hypothesis is accepted. Notably, fathers’ educational status and family income emerged as significant factors. Furthermore, habitat and fathers’ educational status emerged as significant influencers of attitudes.

Impact of an educational intervention on water, sanitation and hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices in early childhood development centres in low-socio-economic areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.

Good water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) enhance healthy living and safe environments for child development. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on WASH status, knowledge, attitudes and practices in early child development (ECD) centres in low socio-economic areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay in 2021. This quasi-experimental, one group, pre-post-test study elicited responses from 51 ECD practitioners (1 per ECD centre). Telephonic structured knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) questionnaires were used. KAP was good among participants. The educational intervention significantly improved mean knowledge (p<0.001, 95% CI: 0.58-1.11) attitudes (p<0.001, 95% CI: 0.39-0.67) and practices (p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.20-0.74). WASH knowledge was significantly impacted by toilet facilities ventilation status (p = 0.083) while WASH attitudes scores were significantly impacted by ventilation where the potties are kept (p = 0.041). WASH practice scores were significantly impacted by across the bush/field (no facility) (p = 0.021) and plastic potties usage (p = 0.057). The educational intervention significantly improved WASH-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among ECD practitioners. WASH conditions in the ECD centres in the study area require additional interventions targeted to sustainable strategies to enhance behavioural modifications for acceptability and sustainability of intervention strategies.

Health education: A vital tool in changing environmental hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices among food handlers in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi

BackgroundEnvironmental hygiene in food establishments is an important determinant of health. Health education package using combination of strategies is essential in preventing cross-contamination. ObjectiveTo determine change in environmental hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices among food handlers following implementation of health education intervention. MethodsA before and after interventional study was conducted on 111 food handlers of food establishments in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi in 2021–22. Tool based on WHO & FSSAI guidelines was prepared with a scoring system to rate environmental hygiene knowledge (0–12), attitudes (0–10) and practices (0–12) including cleaning of surfaces, pest control, waste disposal & segregation, packaging of food along with utensil washing steps (0–10). Health education was given and scores on same tool were reassessed after 8 weeks of intervention. Nail bed swabs were taken as an indicator of bacteriological contamination. ResultsThe differences of mean scores of knowledge, attitudes and practices before & after intervention were statistically significant differences of 9.95 ± 0.95, 8.02 ± 0.68 and 7.91 ± 1.16 respectively (p < 0.05) while utensil washing practices before and after intervention were 2.78 ± 0.59 & 6.77 ± 0.74 with statistically significant difference of 3.99 ± 0.85. Before intervention, pathogenic organisms were isolated in nail bed swabs of 91 % of study participants while after intervention it was 12.6 %. Common species isolated were Klebsiella spp. (55.5 %), E. coli (15.9 %), Staphylococcus spp. (10.9 %) and Acinetobacter spp. (9.9). ConclusionImprovement in environmental hygiene KAP emphasizes need of ensuring implementation of existing guidelines. Thus, health education using planned combination of channels and strategies can achieve desired change.

Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Food Handlers towards Food Hygiene

Knowledge of food hygiene essentially entails the handlers’ awareness or things to be done or things to be put in place, in the course of either acquiring raw food materials, preparing food or serving food to the consumers, so that food safety is achieved. Food hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices are important because inadequate knowledge, poor attitude and poor sanitation practices have life-threatening danger to food safety. It is important to have an understanding of the interaction on prevailing food hygiene knowledge attitude and practices of food handlers in order to minimize foodborne outbreaks. The main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of food handlers regarding the aspect of food hygiene in Kanpur. One hundred ten food handlers from fifty food establishments of Kanpur were involved in this study. The data was collected from the street food vendors with the help of structured questionnaire and extensive observation. Analysis of data revealed that Knowledge and attitude towards food hygiene was satisfactory among food handlers, where most of the food handlers have fair knowledge and attitude that was (50.0 %) and (40.90%) but fair practice was practiced by only (17.27%) whereas, majority of them had poor practice (46.36). About 53.6 per cent of food handlers always wash their hands before handling food and only (38.1%) of the food handlers had knowledge about hygiene and sanitation. Statistical testing with chi-square at p&lt;0.05 showed that there is no correlation between educational level of the food handlers and practice of food hygiene; like-wise attitude of the handlers towards food hygiene and work experience had no impact on food hygiene practices of food handlers. The present study concludes that practice regarding food hygiene is not satisfactory and therefore there is need to increase the practice level of food handlers towards food hygiene.

Disinfection and hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practices among childcare facilities staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Anhui, China: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding disinfection and hand hygiene, along with associated influencing factors among childcare facilities staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Anhui, and to provide information for developing disinfection and hand hygiene strategies for childcare facilities. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Anhui Province residents in China in September 2020. In this study, 60 childcare facilities in two cities of Anhui Province were selected using the convenient sampling method for questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed through a web-based platform. The disinfection and hand hygiene KAP scores among childcare facilities staff were calculated, and their influencing factors were analyzed. The accuracy rates of knowledge, attitude, and practice of behavior were calculated and analyzed. A total of 1,029 participants were included in the study. The disinfection and hand hygiene knowledge, attitude and practice ranged from approximately 5 to 23, 1 to 5, 3 to 13, respectively. The score of urban areas was higher than that of rural areas. Higher education levels and more years of working were associated with higher scores. Additionally, staff who received training or supervision had higher scores than those without. The categories with the lowest knowledge accuracy rate (46.3%), lowest attitude accuracy rate (4.2%), and "always" practice rate (5.3%) among childcare facility staff were all related to the question categories concerning the appropriate range of disinfectants for use. The accuracy rates of hand hygiene knowledge and attitude among the childcare facility staff were high (83.7%-99.6%), but the "always" practice rate was in the middle range (63.0%). The disinfection and hand hygiene knowledge among childcare facilities staff was inadequate during the COVID-19 pandemic in Anhui. Continuous implementation of education and training, particularly in rural areas, is essential. Establishing a monitoring system to assess usage effectiveness and adverse reactions in China is critical. Interventions should focus on increasing compliance with hand hygiene practices. Further research should explore the training and intervention of disinfection and hand hygiene, the safety of disinfection measures, and more operational hand hygiene methods in childcare facilities.

Food safety and personal hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Jordanian mothers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey

Background and Aim: Foodborne illnesses have shaken mothers' defense worldwide because poor knowledge and unsafe food handling practices can jeopardize their children. In Jordan, there are no reliable data on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of mothers regarding food safety when the COVID-19 pandemic occurs. Therefore, this study evaluated Jordanian mothers' understanding, beliefs, and behaviors by examining their KAPs during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on food safety KAPs of mothers living in Jordan following the COVID-19 pandemic. A reliable and accurate survey with 55 questions was distributed among mothers through social media. A total of 376 mothers completed the questionnaire. Results: The results showed a remarkable awareness among the participants of how to keep food safe. However, there is still a significant gap in the implementation of this information in everyday life. This research emphasizes the need for focused interventions in the context of COVID-19 to bridge the gap between Jordanian mothers' KAPs on food safety and personal cleanliness. Conclusion: Efforts should be made, such as public health campaigns and educational programs, to empower mothers, guaranteeing a consistent and comprehensive approach to food safety and personal hygiene in families. These results provide important insights for policymakers and health professionals who want to improve public health initiatives and community resilience during public health crises. Keywords: food safety, foodborne illness, Jordan, knowledge, attitudes and practices, personal hygiene.

Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates

Hand hygiene (HH) is an essential practice to evade the transmission of germs and minimize community-acquired infections. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of HH and other health and safety measures before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. in university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted between December 2022 and March 2023, targeting university students from all disciplines and study levels. A 44-item questionnaire was used which included student demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of HH, as well as the anticipated risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Participants consented before commencing the questionnaire, and the collected data were analysed using the student's t-test and ANOVA test, as required. A total of 378 responses were received nationwide, with a valid response rate of 98%. The HH knowledge revealed an average score of 62%, which was significantly higher in students with moderate family income. Additionally, the average attitude score was 74.7%, as measured on the Likert scale, and the score lacked any correlation with the other variables. HH practice showed an average score of 86.8%, which was correlated with the students' gender and field of study. This study showed a moderate level of knowledge, a good attitude, and good practice around HH and other safety measures among the UAE's university students. Socioeconomic status, gender, and field of study influenced the study outcomes. This study highlights the need for effective awareness campaigns to reinforce students' health and safety, especially for male and non-health science students, in order to protect against communicable diseases.

Sleep quality and its association with anxiety, stress, sleep-related beliefs and attitudes and postural control in young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Adequate sleep is essential for young adults, as this age group primarily consists of students, job seekers, and working people constantly managing a hectic lifestyle. Poor quality of sleep, which is essential for physical and mental well-being in the short and long term, can result in impaired overall health. However, there exists a gap in the literature regarding the factors affecting sleep among young adults. Hence, the objective of this study was to find the prevalence of sleep-related parameters (sleep health, hygiene, and sleep-related beliefs and attitudes) and potential risk factors for sleep quality and to investigate the association between sleep and postural control in young adults. This prospective, cross-sectional, analytical study included 181 young adults, 113 (62.43 %) females, and 68 (37.57 %) males, with a mean age of 23.82±2.88 years. Sleep quality, health, beliefs, hygiene, stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed using questionnaires. Postural control was assessed using center of pressure (COP) indices. The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality was 79.01 % among young adults. Multiple linear regression showed that predictors explained 44 % of sleep quality variance (adjusted R square=0.44, f (12,168) = 20.91, p<0.05). Poor sleep-related beliefs and attitudes (95 % CI [0.037, 0.679], p=0.029), higher perceived stress (95 % CI [0.005, 0.219], p=0.039), higher anxiety severity (95 % CI [0.108, 0.526], p=0.003), and poor COP stability index A/P (95 % CI[4.986, 11.248], p=0.00) were found to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality. High anxiety and stress, and poor dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep are predictors of poor sleep quality in young adults. These factors may significantly affect sleep quality and the experience of restful sleep among young adults. Also, poor sleep quality is associated with reduced postural control (decreased stability in the A/P direction). These findings are crucial for improving young adults' overall health and well-being, as poor sleep is highly prevalent among this age group.

The Relationship Between Knowledge Level And Perineal Hygyene Attitude Towards The Incidence Of Flour Albus

Flour albus is defined as a clear but sometimes milky white discharge that can be small or even quite large. The occurrence of flour albus in adolescents before puberty, after menstruation and even occurs when adolescents experience stress. This study aims to determine the relationship between knowledge level and perineal hygiene attitude towards the incidence of flour albus. This research method uses quantitative with a cross sectional approach. The sample consisted of 62 seventh grade students of SMPN 1 Sukaraja, using simple random sampling technique, data obtained using a questionnaire and analyzed using the chi-square test. The results showed a p-value of 0.000. The conclusion of this study is that there is a relationship between the level of knowledge and perineal hygiene behavior towards the incidence of flour albus. Suggestions for adolescent girls are that they must attend a lot of health counseling, especially reproductive health, in order to increase knowledge, and perineal hygiene behavior that supports maintaining reproductive health and reducing the incidence of flour albus.