Hygiene Behavior and COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities of COVID-19-Imposed Changes in Hygiene Behavior
In Ethiopia, the WHO strategies to stop coronavirus transmission were implemented rapidly. As a result, there was a rapid change in hygiene behavior, which are basic for preventing COVID-19 and other contagious diseases. This research was designed to examine the sustainability of the COVID-19 impose...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580231218421 |
| Summary: | In Ethiopia, the WHO strategies to stop coronavirus transmission were implemented rapidly. As a result, there was a rapid change in hygiene behavior, which are basic for preventing COVID-19 and other contagious diseases. This research was designed to examine the sustainability of the COVID-19 imposed hygiene behaviors for future challenges. The study was conducted in 2 major nexus areas in Addis Ababa. The data were collected using a questionnaire and spot-check from 622 respondents selected by systematic random sampling. The questionnaire was given at every 15th interval in several spots of the site. Observational hygiene-check was done through observing key personal hygiene conditions. Proportion, χ 2 test, and Poisson’s regression were applied for the analysis. The χ 2 -test analyses showed that the hand washing frequency before, during, and post-COVID-19 was statistically significant ( P < .005). Findings from the spot-check also show that the hands of 76.8%, the nails of 68.7%, and the hairs of 70.7% of the respondents were clean. The major driving factors for the rapid changes in hygiene behavior were the awareness developed (95%), the fear and panic (90%), and increased access to water and soap (63%). Nevertheless, the major reasons for failing to continue the COVID-19-imposed good hygiene practice in the post-COVID-19 times include the decline in infection and death rates (26%) and the decline in facility access (20%). Hand washing frequency significantly changed during the COVID-19 pandemic indicating that the practice as part of the preventive strategy was successful. However, as this was mainly due to the fear and panic in the community, the COVID-19 imposed hand washing practice did not bring real and sustainable behavioral changes. This indicates that for long-lasting changes in hygiene behavior, continuous and better approach need to be introduced. |
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| ISSN: | 0046-9580 1945-7243 |