Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively appraise and synthesize studies on hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is a thorough review of scientific papers published between 2015 and 2023 from primary databases such as the Web of...

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Main Authors: Obadia Kyetuza Bishoge, Mwanaidi Omary, Edwin Liheluka, Jonathan Mcharo Mshana, Maryyusta Nguyamu, Yolanda Joseph Mbatia, Robert Mussa Njee, Mwanaidi Kafuye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2023-12-01
Series:Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Subjects:
Online Access:http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/13/12/1018
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author Obadia Kyetuza Bishoge
Mwanaidi Omary
Edwin Liheluka
Jonathan Mcharo Mshana
Maryyusta Nguyamu
Yolanda Joseph Mbatia
Robert Mussa Njee
Mwanaidi Kafuye
author_facet Obadia Kyetuza Bishoge
Mwanaidi Omary
Edwin Liheluka
Jonathan Mcharo Mshana
Maryyusta Nguyamu
Yolanda Joseph Mbatia
Robert Mussa Njee
Mwanaidi Kafuye
author_sort Obadia Kyetuza Bishoge
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study was to comprehensively appraise and synthesize studies on hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is a thorough review of scientific papers published between 2015 and 2023 from primary databases such as the Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The review criteria were met by 26 out of 63 studies assessed for legibility. The review demonstrated that students in SSA had moderate and good hand washing practices in terms of regular hand washing, cleaning hands after defecation, and before and after eating. Furthermore, the review pinpoints hand washing practices as influenced by factors such as knowledge, hand washing facilities and materials, influences from parents and teachers or others, personal and social factors, media, gender, age, and other factors such as location, attitudes, and school modernity. Furthermore, the reviewed studies highlighted recommendations for improving hand hygiene practices, such as enhancing hand hygiene and environmental health education, mobilizing resources for hand washing, creating and implementing health policy, and conducting further studies. This review provides data for policymakers on how to improve student hand hygiene and adds to existing knowledge on hand hygiene practices. HIGHLIGHTS This study presents evidence from the existing literature on school students’ hand hygiene practices in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).; The review covered papers published in SSA from 2015 to 2023.; The hand hygiene practices of students were shown to be moderate and good.; The hand hygiene practices are subject to several factors including knowledge.; The findings encourage further efforts to promote hand hygiene at the school and home levels.;
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spelling doaj.art-c7841b45a87d41a58239d46e29b88f9f2024-01-02T11:27:37ZengIWA PublishingJournal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development2043-90832408-93622023-12-0113121018103510.2166/washdev.2023.222222Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic reviewObadia Kyetuza Bishoge0Mwanaidi Omary1Edwin Liheluka2Jonathan Mcharo Mshana3Maryyusta Nguyamu4Yolanda Joseph Mbatia5Robert Mussa Njee6Mwanaidi Kafuye7 Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania The purpose of this study was to comprehensively appraise and synthesize studies on hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is a thorough review of scientific papers published between 2015 and 2023 from primary databases such as the Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The review criteria were met by 26 out of 63 studies assessed for legibility. The review demonstrated that students in SSA had moderate and good hand washing practices in terms of regular hand washing, cleaning hands after defecation, and before and after eating. Furthermore, the review pinpoints hand washing practices as influenced by factors such as knowledge, hand washing facilities and materials, influences from parents and teachers or others, personal and social factors, media, gender, age, and other factors such as location, attitudes, and school modernity. Furthermore, the reviewed studies highlighted recommendations for improving hand hygiene practices, such as enhancing hand hygiene and environmental health education, mobilizing resources for hand washing, creating and implementing health policy, and conducting further studies. This review provides data for policymakers on how to improve student hand hygiene and adds to existing knowledge on hand hygiene practices. HIGHLIGHTS This study presents evidence from the existing literature on school students’ hand hygiene practices in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).; The review covered papers published in SSA from 2015 to 2023.; The hand hygiene practices of students were shown to be moderate and good.; The hand hygiene practices are subject to several factors including knowledge.; The findings encourage further efforts to promote hand hygiene at the school and home levels.;http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/13/12/1018hand hygienehand washingpracticesprimary school childrensecondary school students
spellingShingle Obadia Kyetuza Bishoge
Mwanaidi Omary
Edwin Liheluka
Jonathan Mcharo Mshana
Maryyusta Nguyamu
Yolanda Joseph Mbatia
Robert Mussa Njee
Mwanaidi Kafuye
Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
hand hygiene
hand washing
practices
primary school children
secondary school students
title Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
title_full Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
title_fullStr Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
title_short Hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
title_sort hand hygiene practices among primary and secondary school students in sub saharan africa a systematic review
topic hand hygiene
hand washing
practices
primary school children
secondary school students
url http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/13/12/1018
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