Factors influencing personal hygiene among primary schoolchildren in western Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Personal hygiene has an impact on the health, quality of life and academic performance of schoolchildren. The factors associated with it can be complex. We carried out our analysis based on a database on hookworms in schoolchildren in Côte d'Ivoire. This is a cross-sectional retrospective study, on 2,035 schoolchildren recruited from 30 schools in the western region of Côte d'Ivoire. The predictors of good personal hygiene for schoolchildren were the existence of a good level of sanitation at home (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.24–2.13) and a primary school education as the minimum level of education for the father (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.12–1.96). In contrast, students below the age of ten attending poor sanitary establishments are more likely to have poor personal hygiene (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.22–0.73); therefore, it becomes necessary to provide good basic environmental sanitation for families and schools. HIGHLIGHTS The study has the particularity of having been carried out on a large sample of students.; It describes the hygiene practices of students in poor areas of the country.; It identifies the risk factors independent of poor student hygiene.; It provides guidelines for an effective fight against hygiene-related diseases in children.; It is an aid for the improvement of the learning conditions of pupils.;

Keywords

• côte d'ivoire
• personal hygiene
• primary schools
• pupils