Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundHand washing with soap and water reduces the risk of diarrheal episode by 28–48% and acute respiratory infection by 20–50%. However, there is limited evidence on hand washing practices among students in Eastern Ethiopia, particularly in Harari town. Therefore, this study aimed to determine...

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Main Authors: Ashenafi Berhanu, Dechasa Adare Mengistu, Liku Muche Temesgen, Salie Mulat, Gebisa Dirirsa, Fekade Ketema Alemu, Adane Ermias Mangasha, Tesfaye Gobena, Abraham Geremew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.975507/full
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author Ashenafi Berhanu
Dechasa Adare Mengistu
Liku Muche Temesgen
Salie Mulat
Gebisa Dirirsa
Fekade Ketema Alemu
Adane Ermias Mangasha
Tesfaye Gobena
Abraham Geremew
author_facet Ashenafi Berhanu
Dechasa Adare Mengistu
Liku Muche Temesgen
Salie Mulat
Gebisa Dirirsa
Fekade Ketema Alemu
Adane Ermias Mangasha
Tesfaye Gobena
Abraham Geremew
author_sort Ashenafi Berhanu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHand washing with soap and water reduces the risk of diarrheal episode by 28–48% and acute respiratory infection by 20–50%. However, there is limited evidence on hand washing practices among students in Eastern Ethiopia, particularly in Harari town. Therefore, this study aimed to determine hand washing practice among primary school students and associated factors in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was applied among 670 students in Harar town from June 1 to 30, 2021. A multi-stage sampling was employed; 6 out of 20 schools were selected through simple random sampling, while eligible children from each school was selected by probability proportional to size sampling method. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire with a face-to-face interview technique and via observation. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23. Binary and mult-variable analysis were used to determine the association between factors and outcome variable. Finally, a p-value of < 0.05 was considered to declare a statistically significant association.ResultsA total of 670 participants were included in the study, of which 248 (37.0%) had washed their hands [95% CI: 33.3–40.06]. Being in grade 8 Adjusted Odd Ratio[AOR = 4.9; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.28–10.52], living in an urban area [AOR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.29–9.40], having role models (parents [AOR = 4.41; 95% CI: 1.79–10.86], teachers [AOR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.39–8.81], and health professionals [AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.17–8.63]), availability of hand washing facility [AOR = 3.62; 95% CI: 1.57–8.34], access to soap and water [AOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.39–5.98] and being membership of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) club [AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.41–4.03] were found to be significantly associated with hand washing practice.ConclusionsThe current study found that nearly a third of students practiced proper hand washing. Hand washing practice was influenced by students' grade level, residence, referents (role models for hand washing), presence of a hand washing facility, access to water and soap, and membership of WASH club. Therefore, the finding revealed that there is a need to improve hand-washing practices in schools by concerned agencies.
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spelling doaj.art-6d9c0abe6e244b70aec89a6152c80e942022-12-22T03:29:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-11-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.975507975507Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional studyAshenafi Berhanu0Dechasa Adare Mengistu1Liku Muche Temesgen2Salie Mulat3Gebisa Dirirsa4Fekade Ketema Alemu5Adane Ermias Mangasha6Tesfaye Gobena7Abraham Geremew8Department Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaSchool of Public and Environmental Health, Hawassa University, Hawassa, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaBackgroundHand washing with soap and water reduces the risk of diarrheal episode by 28–48% and acute respiratory infection by 20–50%. However, there is limited evidence on hand washing practices among students in Eastern Ethiopia, particularly in Harari town. Therefore, this study aimed to determine hand washing practice among primary school students and associated factors in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was applied among 670 students in Harar town from June 1 to 30, 2021. A multi-stage sampling was employed; 6 out of 20 schools were selected through simple random sampling, while eligible children from each school was selected by probability proportional to size sampling method. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire with a face-to-face interview technique and via observation. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23. Binary and mult-variable analysis were used to determine the association between factors and outcome variable. Finally, a p-value of < 0.05 was considered to declare a statistically significant association.ResultsA total of 670 participants were included in the study, of which 248 (37.0%) had washed their hands [95% CI: 33.3–40.06]. Being in grade 8 Adjusted Odd Ratio[AOR = 4.9; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.28–10.52], living in an urban area [AOR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.29–9.40], having role models (parents [AOR = 4.41; 95% CI: 1.79–10.86], teachers [AOR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.39–8.81], and health professionals [AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.17–8.63]), availability of hand washing facility [AOR = 3.62; 95% CI: 1.57–8.34], access to soap and water [AOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.39–5.98] and being membership of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) club [AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.41–4.03] were found to be significantly associated with hand washing practice.ConclusionsThe current study found that nearly a third of students practiced proper hand washing. Hand washing practice was influenced by students' grade level, residence, referents (role models for hand washing), presence of a hand washing facility, access to water and soap, and membership of WASH club. Therefore, the finding revealed that there is a need to improve hand-washing practices in schools by concerned agencies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.975507/fullinfectious diseasehand washingpracticeschool-aged childrenEthiopia
spellingShingle Ashenafi Berhanu
Dechasa Adare Mengistu
Liku Muche Temesgen
Salie Mulat
Gebisa Dirirsa
Fekade Ketema Alemu
Adane Ermias Mangasha
Tesfaye Gobena
Abraham Geremew
Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Public Health
infectious disease
hand washing
practice
school-aged children
Ethiopia
title Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study
title_full Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study
title_short Hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia: An institution-based cross-sectional study
title_sort hand washing practice among public primary school children and associated factors in harar town eastern ethiopia an institution based cross sectional study
topic infectious disease
hand washing
practice
school-aged children
Ethiopia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.975507/full
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