Washing Practices Research Articles

The Relationship Between Reliability of School Water Service and Pupils Carrying Water from Home to School for Hand Washing Practices

The Relationship Between Reliability of School Water Service and Pupils Carrying Water from Home to School for Hand Washing Practices

Determinants of Acute Watery Diarrhea in Children Under Five Years: A Comprehensive Analysis

Background: Acute watery diarrhea (AWD), which has a sudden onset and is associated with a risk of severe dehydration, is primarily spread through unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene. Socioeconomic factors, like low parental education and poverty, further increase risks. WHO-recommended interventions, including oral rehydration therapy, zinc supplementation, and rotavirus vaccinations, have reduced diarrhea-related deaths globally. Aim of the study: This study aims to explore the socio-demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors associated with childhood watery diarrhea, particularly in high-risk regions. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric, 250 Bedded General Hospital, Khulna, Bangladesh, with 210 children aged 0–60 months presenting acute watery diarrhea, enrolled over one year July 2023 to June 2024. Eligible children met specific inclusion criteria, while exclusion was applied to cases of chronic diarrhea or unrelated pre-existing conditions. Data confidentiality was maintained, with ethical approval granted. The analysis involved descriptive statistics in SPSS (version 26) for comprehensive result interpretation. Result: The study included 210 children under five, with a mean age of 14.51±5.34 months; most were aged 7-12 months (38.10%), and 54.29% were male. Caregivers were predominantly aged 28.39±4.11 years, with 73.81% having completed primary education. Key findings included high MMR vaccination rates (62.38%), significant exclusive breastfeeding for six months (58.57%), and recent diarrhea reports among 20.95% of caregivers. In terms of WASH practices, 60.48% used piped water, 57.62% stored drinking water separately, and 95.71% had toilet facilities. Notably, 67.14% used water only for handwashing, and 45.24% washed hands with soap post-toilet use. Conclusion: Safe water, sanitation, and handwashing practices are essential to reducing acute watery diarrhea in children under five. Children in households with untreated water and inconsistent caregiver handwashing face higher risks. Targeted public health initiatives to improve water treatment and hygiene could greatly reduce diarrhea incidence and improve child health outcomes.

Sociodemographic Factors and Antenatal Service Utilization among Severe Acute Malnutrition Children under 2 Years of Age, Western India (Rajkot, Gujarat) – A Hospital-based Case-Control Study

Abstract Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is multifactorial including poor maternal health, sociodemographic factors, and poor quality of diet of both the mother and child. Present study was carried out to determine sociodemographic factors and antenatal service utilization for SAM occurrence. This hospital-based case-control study was carried out from April 2021 to April 2022. Cases (77) and controls (77) were matched for age and sex with 1:1 ratio. Cases were selected from Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre and controls from an immunization clinic using WHO’s Multicentric Growth Reference Study Criteria 2006. Mothers of study participants were interviewed by using semistructured questionnaires. The weight and height of study participants were measured. The odds of children having SAM increased significantly with illiterate parents, working mothers, and labor work of fathers. The absence of toilet facility at home and poor hygienic practices of mothers were significant risk factors. Mother’s <4 antenatal visits, home deliveries, and participants with low birth weight were associated with SAM. Logistic regression stated laborer fathers, poor hand washing practices of mothers, absence of toilet facility at home, and low birth weight of study participants were found independent determinants for SAM. Risk factors identified in the present study are modifiable and can be addressed through health system interventions.

Magnitude of enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea and antibiotic resistance of enteric bacterial pathogens isolated among children under 5 years of age in Bule Hora town, West Guji, Ethiopia.

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide among all ages, and one of the leading causes of poor health and premature death in the developing world. Microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites, are responsible for enteric infections among children. Excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs and poor infection control practices have transformed antimicrobial resistance into a serious threat to public health worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the prevalence of enteric pathogens and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens. Assess the prevalence of enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea in children under 5 years at the Bule Hora Health Facility in 2021. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to July 2021 in a Bule Hora Health Centre and Hospital. A total of 422 children with diarrhea were included in the study in the outpatient department. Sociodemographic and associated factors were evaluated using a pre-tested questionnaire. A sufficient amount of stool specimens was collected following standard microbiological procedures. An antigen detection kit was used to diagnose rotaviruses, parasites were examined using microscopy, and bacterial identification was carried out by culture and biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The p-value less than 0.05 was declared statistically significant. The overall prevalence of enteropathogens in children under 5 years of age was 17%, with no mixed infections detected. Of this, 7.8% of the children's stool samples contained bacterial pathogens, 5% tested positive for rotavirus, and 4.2% contained intestinal parasites. Unprotected drinking water sources, poor carrier hand washing practices, and poor cleaning of utensils for child feeding were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of enteropathogens. Bacterial isolates have shown a high prevalence of resistance to amoxicillin. Therefore, it is important to take steps to reduce the spread of enteric pathogens among children under 5 years practicing good hygiene, ensuring sanitation, and providing clean drinking water. We recommend performing antimicrobial susceptibility tests before prescribing treatment to children with diarrhea.

Hand washing knowledge, attitudes and practices among dental students

Hand washing knowledge, attitudes and practices among dental students

Eco-friendly textile cleaning: Micro-nano bubbles technology for enhanced efficiency and sustainability

Traditional textile cleaning methods raise significant environmental concerns, contributing to fabric waste, high energy consumption, and water pollution due to the extensive use of time, mechanical force, and detergents. This study investigates the potential of Micro-nano bubbles technology as a more environmentally friendly alternative, focusing on reducing the dependency on mechanical force and detergents during the cleaning and separation processes. A total of fourteen real stains and five standardized stains were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of Micro-nano bubbles in textile washing. Variations in detergent quantity, washing time, and mechanical force were systematically adjusted to assess the performance of Micro-nano bubbles in washing textiles using both tap water and Micro-nano bubble solutions. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in washing efficiency for 13 stains in a shorter duration, with lower mechanical force and reduced detergent use. Notably, six stains, particularly oil-based ones, showed substantial enhancement—up to approximately 19%—with a marked improvement in the removal of chocolate with milk stains. These findings highlight the potential of Micro-nano bubbles to revolutionize textile cleaning. In conclusion, Micro-nano bubbles washing presents a viable and eco-friendly alternative, effectively reducing washing time, mechanical force, and detergent consumption compared to conventional methods. This technology shows great promise for enhancing wash rates and reducing energy consumption in textile washing practices.

Street Food: Hygiene Practices and Knowledge Among Food Hawkers Towards Customer Satisfaction

Street food has become an important element of people's diets since it is easily accessible and affordable in urban areas, and it is woven into our modern lifestyle. However, many street food hawkers do not possess formal education and often lack basic knowledge and practices regarding food safety. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the hawkers' hygiene knowledge and review the hawkers' hygiene practices in relation to customer satisfaction. Content analysis is used on 32 journals published from the past five years worldwide to review how hawkers’ hygiene knowledge and hawkers’ hygiene practices have affected customer satisfaction. As a result, it was discovered that most of the hawkers did not attend food safety training and did not have a high level of food hygiene and safety knowledge. Furthermore, it was found that most of the hawkers did not practice proper personal hygiene, especially in handwashing washing practices. The findings also indicated that customer satisfaction is influenced by hawkers' hygiene practices, specifically personal hygiene, cleanliness of their premises and equipment, and food hygiene. The study concluded that hygiene knowledge and practices among hawkers should be emphasized to produce good and safe food for customers to consume. Future researchers are encouraged to broaden the data collection to include more respondents who can provide a more general perspective on the issues.

Communities’ knowledge, perceptions and preventive practices on soil-transmitted helminthes in Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia: Formative mixed study

Background Soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) infections are one of the most common neglected tropical diseases. It has become one of a significant public health problem programmatically aimed for prevention and control in Ethiopia. Limited evidence is available on communities’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding STH particularly in rural settings of Jimma, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study triangulated with the qualitative method was conducted. The survey included 732 sampled rural households. Linear regression was used to assess association between predictors of knowledge and preventive practices of STH; likewise logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of hand washing practice at critical times. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were done to test differences in median risk perception score by socio-demographic factors. Qualitative data were collected through 7 key informant interviews, 6 focus group discussions and 7 expert group discussions then transcribed verbatim. Then, the data were coded, categorized and thematized using the Atlas ti.7.1.4 software package. Results Almost all of the respondents (99.6%) had heard of STH. The prevalence of comprehensive knowledge, risk perception and preventive practices towards STH were 46.7%:(95%CI:43.2, 50.4), 55.2%: (95%CI:51.2,59) and 44.4%:(95%CI:40.8, 48.2) respectively. Likewise, the magnitude of knowledge and practice of hand washing at critical times were 42.5%: (95%CI: 38.7,45.9) and 43.9%: (95%CI: 40, 47.5) respectively. Risk perception and comprehensive knowledge towards STH varied significantly across districts and by respondents’ educational status. Ownership of improved latrine was associated to comprehensive knowledge of STH. The STH preventive practice that varied across districts was predicted by the overall and knowledge specific to washing hands at critical times. The practice of washing hands at critical times was significantly associated to knowledge of hand washing, owning improved latrine, and age from 15 to 34 year compared to >45 year. Moreover, qualitative findings were supportive of the findings. Conclusion Despite reported exposures to STH communication opportunities, the study found modest levels of knowledge, perceptions, and preventive practices related to STH among rural communities where the burden of STH was the programmatic concern. These levels of knowledge, perceptions, and practices varied across the districts. Educational and latrine status predicted overall knowledge, whereas knowledge specific to hand washing and overall knowledge were predictors of STH preventive practice. Furthermore, washing hands during critical times was moderately improved among the young-aged, ownership of improved latrine and knowledgeable on hand washing. This study underscores the need for locally tailored and contextualized community behavioral change interventions needs to be strengthened toward improved STH preventive practices.

Intestinal parasitic co-infections associated with Helicobacter pylori among paediatric patients with gastrointestinal illness attending a general hospital in southern Ethiopia

BackgroundConcurrent infections or co-infections caused by intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are quite rampant in paediatrics living in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, and if left untreated, can result in severe complications and hence must be addressed to ensure their health and well-being.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic and H. pylori co-infections and associated factors among paediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who attended the Arba Minch General Hospital (AMGH), Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia, from September to November 2020.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among a study population of 299 paediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who visited AMGH. Stool samples were collected and analysed to detect H. pylori and intestinal parasites. A rapid lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay was employed to identify the H. pylori copra antigen, whereas the latter was detected using wet mount saline preparation and formol-ether concentration method. Socio-demographic, clinical, behavioural and other factors were obtained by means of a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were done by Statistical Package for Social Service (SPSS) version 25; P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites was 14% (n = 42) and 37.1% (n = 111), respectively, whereas that of the co-infections with these pathogens was 6.4% (n = 19). Giardia lamblia was the most prevailing parasite, 21.4% (n = 64). Informal maternal education [AOR = 5.14; 95% CI: 1.98–15.70] and lack of hand washing practice were significantly associated with the extent of co-infections [AOR = 4.18; 95% CI: 1.36–12.80].ConclusionNearly one in twenty pediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had intestinal parasitic infections and H. pylori co-infections, representing a silent health problem that is to be addressed through effective control strategies. Health administrators should consider the importance of co-infections in clinical diagnosis and planning aimed at its prevention.

Determinants of adoption of household water treatment in Haiti using two analysis methods: logistic regression and machine learning.

Household water treatment (HWT) is recommended when safe drinking water is limited. To understand determinants of HWT adoption, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with 650 households across different regions in Haiti. Data were collected on 71 demographic and psychosocial factors and 2 outcomes (self-reported and confirmed HWT use). Data were transformed into 169 possible determinants of adoption across nine categories. We assessed determinants using logistic regression and, as machine learning methods are increasingly used, random forest analyses. Overall, 376 (58%) respondents self-reported treating or purchasing water, and 123 (19%) respondents had residual chlorine in stored household water. Both logistic regression and machine learning analyses had high accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC): 0.77-0.82), and the strongest determinants in models were in the demographics and socioeconomics, risk belief, and WASH practice categories. Determinants that can be influenced inform HWT promotion in Haiti. It is recommended to increase access to HWT products, provide cash and education on water treatment to emergency-impacted populations, and focus future surveys on known determinants of adoption. We found both regression and machine learning methods need informed, thoughtful, and trained analysts to ensure meaningful results and discuss the benefits/drawbacks of analysis methods herein.

Relationship between Tooth Brushing and Hand Washing by Family Type among Adolescents: A 2020 Nationally Representative Korean Survey

Habits formed during adolescence tend to persist into adulthood, and correcting poor habits or behaviors during this time is more effective than at other times. Particularly, parents and caregivers should encourage good hygiene habits in their adolescent children by setting a positive example themselves. Using logistic regression, we analyzed the association between brushing teeth after lunch and washing hands before lunch by family type among 54,848 adolescents from the 17th Youth Health Behavior Survey raw data in 2021. Four logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounders hierarchically. In all models, adolescents who practiced tooth brushing after lunch were 2.09 times more likely to practice hand washing before lunch than those who did not. With and without adjustment, we found that the association between adolescents’ tooth brushing and hand washing practices in two-parent households was stronger than the association between adolescents’ tooth brushing and hand washing practices in single-parent households. Associations were found between tooth brushing and hand washing practices, and these associations were higher among adolescents in two-parent households than among adolescents in single-parent households. The finding of a significant link between family type and personal hygiene habits indicates the need for interventions to enhance the oral health of children and adolescents. Such interventions should be customized to reflect the specific characteristics of the child’s household.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene–specific risk factors of recent diarrheal episodes in children aged under 5 years: analysis of secondary data from the multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS 2019)

ObjectivesAccess to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, collectively called WASH, is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of public health. However, inadequate WASH practices and environments significantly contribute to the global burden of diarrheal diseases, particularly, in children aged under 5 years. Inadequate WASH conditions are the primary drivers of various infectious diseases, including cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. MethodsWe conducted secondary data analysis using the 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to investigate the specific WASH risk factors associated with recent diarrheal episodes in children aged under 5 years. ResultsA total of 853 (14%) of 6092 children were reported to have experienced an episode of diarrhea in the last 2 weeks preceding the survey. Having insufficient water in the household was associated with 17.0% diarrhea episodes compared with 13.6% in those who did not face this problem. The availability of soap or detergents to wash hands was associated with a risk of diarrhea, with an odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of 1.19 (1.01-1.40), P = 0.033. The use of surface water, including rivers, dams, lakes, ponds, streams, canals, and irrigation channels, was associated with differences in diarrheal episodes, although this was of borderline significance, P = 0.082. Of the children who had a recent episode of diarrhea, 41.0% had their parents or caregivers seeking medical attention. ConclusionsThere is need for an improvement in safe water supply to households and an improvement in health education on the importance of using soap after using the toilet to avoid contamination of food and water.

A study to assess the knowledge and practice regarding sanitation and hygiene among women living in selected areas of Dhaka city

Background: Access to improved sanitation and hygiene is one of the prime concerns around the globe. This study aimed at assessing knowledge and practice regarding sanitation and hygiene among women living in selected areas of Dhaka city. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slums of Vellore using the systematic random sampling method. Data was analyzed using frequency and WASH scoring. Further bi-variate and multivariate analyses was done using chi-square test and logistic regression. A total number of 140 households were surveyed using a semi-structured, pilot-tested questionnaire. Results: The 230 participants, with a mean age of 43.2 years, who were mostly from nuclear families (72.6%) and had monthly family incomes of at least 20,000 BDT, were included in the study. The 37% of respondents had hygienic sanitation facilities, while 42% of respondents had access to Kacha latrines. 69% of the participants used sandals while defecating, and 64% washed their hands with water and soap or ash. A significant association between WASH practices and household members with less than five members and upper middle SES group was found by multivariate logistic regression analysis, with a significance level of less than 0.01. Conclusions: Since good hygiene will stop the spread of infectious diseases, knowledge and practice of proper personal hygiene and sanitation are essential in day-to-day living. Comprehensive knowledge, more awareness programs, and subsidy policies should be implemented in order to improve sanitation and reduce the burden of transmissible diseases while taking into account regional variations in hygiene practice.

Factors affecting nutritional status among children aged below five years in Rwanda’s Western and Southern Provinces

BackgroundThe state of a child’s nutrition is a critical indicator of their overall health and wellbeing. Public health still faces challenges from undernutrition, especially in developing nations across the globe. In Rwanda, around 33% of children aged under five years suffer from chronic undernutrition. Many factors, such as poverty, illiteracy, poor WASH practices, improper child feeding practices, and insufficient healthcare, are the leading causes of undernutrition. The study aims to assess infant and young child feeding practices, WASH, food security, and their association with the nutritional status of children under five years in Rwanda’s Western and Southern provinces.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was applied to study factors affecting the nutritional status of children under five years in 439 households in the Karongi, Nyabihu, and Nyamagabe districts of Rwanda. The study assessed anemia, stunting, underweight, and wasting indicators, and collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.ResultsThe study findings indicate that among the children surveyed, 29.2% (128) were identified as stunted, 5.9% (26) were underweight, 2.3% (10) suffered from wasting, and 20.9% (31) had anemia. Factors associated with these conditions included larger household size [AOR = 2.108; 95% CI (1.016–4.371)], positively associated with stunting. Additionally, children from households where the head was above 60 years old were more likely to exhibit stunting [AOR = 4.809; 95% CI (1.513, 15.283)]. Furthermore, a high household dietary diversity score was positively linked to being underweight [AOR = 6.061; 95% CI (1.535,23.942)].ConclusionHousehold characteristics like size, dietary diversity, and the age of the household head affect children’s nutritional status. Improving these conditions would enhance children’s nutritional status.

Inadequate food safety knowledge and hygiene practices among street food vendors in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Food safety remains a critical issue with outbreaks of foodborne illness. The knowledge gap of food safety and improper hygienic practices of food handlers are the key factors for the transmission of foodborne diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the level of food safety knowledge and practices among street food vendors in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, and its implications on consumers’ health. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 respondents in seven areas of Dhaka City. Trained data collectors gather data by interviewing street vendors using a pretested questionnaire. Most of the vendors (98%) were male, with 48% having secondary education and 85% having no food safety training. Although about 89% of the vendors were found to practice hand washing, only a small proportion of them practised using hand gloves while handling raw products (5.6%), cleaning tables (2.2%), preparing foods (1.3%) or handling garbage (0.9%). The education level of the vendors and their work experience were significantly correlated with their hand washing practice, wearing hand gloves and their knowledge about food-borne illnesses. The study demonstrated that formal education played a significant role in vendors’ knowledge and practice of health safety measures for food handlers to prevent foodborne illness. Effective food safety training and monitoring are needed to increase vendors' knowledge and practices, and in reducing foodborne diseases.

Assessment of water, sanitation and hand hygiene practices in rural households of Tamil Nadu: A cross-sectional study.

Water is a basic human right essential to all for sustainable development. Sanitation is one of the determinants of quality of life and the human development index. Drinking unsafe water impairs health through illnesses such as diarrhoea, and untreated excreta contaminates ground waters and surface waters used for drinking, bathing and household purposes. To assess the existing facilities and practices related to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene among household members in the rural population of Tamil Nadu and to assess whether accessibility and availability of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation under sustainable development goal 6 is being achieved in the rural population of Tamil Nadu. This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 households in the rural field practice area of the Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. The participants were interviewed using a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire on their existing water, sanitation, and hand washing facilities and practices. Our study observed that 71.5% of households had piped water supply into their dwellings, 82% were using sanitary latrines and 28% had closed drainage for draining wastewater. Twenty-eight percent were using soap and water for hand-washing before food, and 82.5% were doing hand-washing with soap after using the toilet. In our study, the association between sanitary practices and education, occupation and socioeconomic status was statistically significant. Our study emphasized the need for strengthening health education and behaviour change communication regarding sanitation and hand hygiene practices.

Individual and community-level factors of availability of observed water, soap, and other cleansing agents for hand washing practice in Ethiopia: a multilevel mixed-effects analysis of the 2021 performance monitoring for action Ethiopia.

This study delves into individual and community-level factors influencing the availability of water, soap, and cleansing agents for handwashing in Ethiopia. Its comprehensive exploration offers nuanced insights, informing targeted interventions and policies to effectively enhance handwashing resources across Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess individual and community-level factors of availability of observed water, soap, and other cleansing agents for hand washing practices in Ethiopia. Data from the 2021 PMA-ET, encompassing 24,747 household participants, informed this study. Employing STATA version 17.0, a multi-level mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was performed to identify individual and community-level factors. Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval conveyed the strength and direction of associations, with significance determined at p < 0.05. Significant factors affecting handwashing resources availability: water, soap, and cleansing agents included education status such as Participants aged below 25 and between 25 and 64 (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.0891, 1.7631) and (OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.1431, 1.8621) respectively, individuals with no formal education and those with only primary education were 40 and 39% less likely (OR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0. 47,191, 0. 77,317) and (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0. 46,526, 0. 80,124) respectively, those who had poor and had middle wealth status were (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0. 24,955, 0.37165) and (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.31465, 0. 44,973) respectively, who had media exposure (OR = 2.88; 95% CI: 2.5565, 3.2615), water sources, various sources like Piped Water, tube well, dug well, spring, rainwater, and surface water were less likely to provide access compared to bottled water. Furthermore, clusters with a lower proportion of primary education [AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: (0.04303, 0.44515)], and those with a higher proportion of middle wealth status [AOR = 3.26, 95% CI: (1.071, 9.9245)]. The study uncovered individual and community-level factors impacting the availability of water, soap, and cleansing agents for handwashing in Ethiopia. Individual factors like age, education, wealth, water source, media exposure, Community factors such as education levels and wealth status showed significant associations. Community initiatives should boost primary education and equitable wealth distribution to ensure widespread access to hand-washing resources, fostering improved hygiene practices.

Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and associated factors of Streptococcus pyogenes among apparently healthy school children in Mekelle city primary schools, Northern Ethiopia

BackgroundStreptococcus pyogenes is one of the major public health concerns causing human infections ranging from skin and throat infections to acute rheumatic fever and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Moreover, nowadays drug-resistant strains of S. pyogenes are emerging and can be transmitted through apparently healthy carriers to susceptible individuals. ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and associated factors S. pyogenes among apparently healthy school children in Mekelle city primary schools, Northern Ethiopia. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 504 apparently healthy school children from February to May 2018. We used structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data. Throat specimens were collected using sterile cotton Swab and transported for culture, antimicrobial susceptibility and identification of S. pyogenes according to standard operating procedures. Data were analyzed using Stata 13 for descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. P-value <0.05 was declared statistically significance. ResultsThe mean age of the study participants was 11.5 years of which 55 % of them were females. The overall prevalence of S. pyogenes was 8.3 %. Being female, having low monthly income, weak personal hygiene, poor hand washing habit and crowded living style were significantly associated with the occurrence of S. pyogenes. The isolates of S. pyogenes showed resistance to Penicillin (69.1 %), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid (62 %), Ampicillin (54.6 %), Ceftriaxone (47.6 %), Tetracycline (14.4 %), Cefoxitin (7.2 %). About 57.15 % isolates were multidrug-resistant. ConclusionsThis study revealed that some isolates of S. pyogenes among the apparently healthy school children were resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotic agents and associated with hygienic conditions and living style. Therefore, it is recommended to practice antimicrobial susceptibility test to maintain rational antibiotic use and improve hygienic and hand washing practices to decrease the likelihood of carriage rate.

Hand Washing Practices and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Palmar Bacterial Flora in a Tertiary Education Institution in Nigeria

Introduction: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective and inexpensive means of preventing the spread of communicable diseases. Rates of handwashing worldwide are low, and poor handwashing practices in universities remain a public health challenge. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the practice of handwashing, the microbial communities, and the susceptibility pattern of micro-organisms isolated from the palms of students of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria. Methods: A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to retrieve data. A self-administered questionnaire was utilised to gather socio-demographic characteristics and the practice scale of handwashing from the respondents. Isolation and identification were carried out by culture-based surveys and biochemical tests. Disk diffusion was used to determine susceptibility. Results: The majority of respondents were between ages 21–25 years, with 54.3% of them being female. About half of individuals never used an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, while only 4.9% of respondents admitted to always using soap to wash their hands. Presumptive identification of the organisms showed 38.1% of organisms as Staphylococcus epidermidis and 17.58% as Micrococcus spp. None of the antibiotics showed total efficacy. The resistance to chloramphenicol was low, and &lt;50% of the isolates showed resistance to tetracycline, novobiocin, and sulphonamide. Resistance to nalidixic acid was seen in 58.4% of organisms tested, and 77.75% were susceptible to tetracycline. Conclusion: Instances of improper hand hygiene were high, and this may increase the spread of micro-organisms through hand carriage. High resistance to the antibiotics tested was prevalent. Local trends of antimicrobial resistance must be robustly studied and proper interventions developed.

Effectiveness of Intervention Program on Primary School Pupils’ about Hand-washing Practices

This quasi-experimental study aimed to develop an intervention program to enhance hand hygiene practices among school children in Najaf Governorate. Data were collected via a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics and hand washing behaviors. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Results revealed suboptimal hand hygiene practices, with only 58.2% of children washing their hands after using the bathroom and 63.4% after playing. Gender and age disparities were evident, with females and older children exhibiting better hand washing habits. Family dynamics also played a significant role, with children learning hand washing predominantly from their mothers, particularly when fathers were present and employed as earners. Recommendations include integrating hygiene education into school curricula and conducting targeted educational sessions to promote effective hand washing practices. These findings underscore the importance of addressing socio-demographic factors in designing interventions to improve hand hygiene among school children, thereby mitigating the spread of infectious diseases. Highlights : Importance of Hand Hygiene: The study highlights the significance of hand washing in preventing disease transmission, emphasizing its crucial role in maintaining public health. Gender and Age Disparities: Findings reveal differences in hand washing practices based on gender and age, underlining the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities. Influence of Family and Profession: The influence of family members, particularly parents, and the profession of the father on hand washing habits underscores the importance of familial and societal support in promoting good hygiene practices. Keywords : Hand hygiene, Intervention program, Quasi-experimental study, School curriculum, Educational session