Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hand hygiene among in-school adolescents in a metropolitan city in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: We assessed the knowledge and practices towards hand hygiene among in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 in-school adolescents. Hand hygiene knowledge was assessed with 29 questions, and practices were assessed using 24 questions. Adolescents with scores ≥18 points were said to have good knowledge of hand hygiene, while those with scores ≥16 points observed good hand hygiene practices. Data analyses were conducted at univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels (α0.05). Results: Adolescents’ mean age was 13.7±2.0 years, and 232 (58.9%) attended public schools. Overall, 230 (58.4%) adolescents had good knowledge of hand hygiene; 118 (72.8%) in the private and 103 (44.4%) in the public schools, while 288 (73.1%) in-school adolescents observed good hand hygiene practices; 132 (81.5%) in the private and 156 (67.2%) in the public schools. Overall, 122 (55.6%) adolescents attending public schools had good hand hygiene knowledge (χ2 = 7.78, p=0.005). Also, 156 (67.2%) adolescents in public schools observed good practices (χ2=9.84, p=0.002). There was two times odds of good knowledge (aOR=1.94, p=0.003) and good hand hygiene practices (aOR=2.41, p=0.001) among adolescents in private schools. Conclusions: Improving hand hygiene practices requires building hygiene infrastructure and implementing educational initiatives to promote sustained behavioral change in school environments.

Keywords

• adolescents
• behaviour change
• hand hygiene
• health education
• school health