ABSTRACT
Objective: It
was an attempt to assess the level of knowledge regarding personal hygiene
among the students in order to help to formulate proper educational programme
in high schools.
Methods: The
respondents were the students of class eight of the said high schools. It was a
descriptive type of cross sectional study. Data were collected on questionnaire
by face to face interview. In total, 120 respondents were interviewed out of which
60 were girls and the same numbers were boys.
Place and
year of study: This study was done in four selected high schools of rural
community under Bhaluka Thana, district Mymensingh.
Result: A
picture of inadequate knowledge on personal hygiene among the students revealed
from this study. Some of the students had misconceptions about it. 19.17%
respondents had good knowledge regarding personal hygiene and on disease in
relation to it. 58.33% had fair knowledge and 22.5% had poor knowledge on the
subject. 56.67% respondents did not know the consequences of using coal or ash
for cleaning teeth. Some of them told that it is not harmful for the teeth,
even beneficial because, according to their opinion teeth become more clean and
bright if these are used. Some respondents gave interesting opinion about
putting on shoes. They stated that to remain bare foot is beneficial for the
eyes. Some told malaria, headache etc. act as a consequence of not cutting
nails regularly.
Conclusion: This may be due to negligence of the teachers
of the teachers as well as the irresponsibility of the local health authority.
It may also be due to that syllabus is not properly prepared for the students.
Lac of attention and ignorance of the parents are also responsible for such
poor knowledge and misconceptions.
Key wards:
Personal hygiene, knowledge, negligence, ignorance.
INTRODUCTION
The word “hygiene” is derived
from Hygeia, the goddess of health in Greek mythology. Hygiene is defined as “the science of health
and embraces all the factors which contribute to healthful living.1
Personal hygiene includes all
those personal factors which influence the health and well being of an
individual.2
It consists of many activities
such as care of body, care of clothing, care of teeth, hair, nails etc., and
habit regarding eating, exercise, sleep, smoking, drinking ant mental attitude
towards life.3 Any disruption of these activities may impair health. For
example dirty skin predisposes to skin diseases, bad oral hygiene predisposes
pyorrhea and caries of the teeth, dirty hair may lead to louse infestation and
dandruffs etc.
Health is deeply related to life
style, i.e. the individuals’ way of living, personal hygiene, habits,
behaviours and health knowledge. The foundation of personal hygiene is laid in
childhood.
We know that “Prevention is
better than cure”. So emphasis must be given to preventive medicine. People
should avoid unhealthy behaviour and adopt health promoting activities.
Health plays an important part in
the prevention of health. it is readily formed, grows by practice and
eventually becomes a part and parcel of his nature, making its subsequent
eradication a matter of great difficulty. It is for this reason that the habit
is called the second nature.4
It is true that health habits
formed in the childhood particularly in the school going age are likely to be
carried over subsequent stages of life e.g., adulthood, old age and even to
next generation.5
They do not know the benefit of
simple hand washing before meal and after defecation. A
Study from ICDDRB by Nigar S
Sahid et al, showed that simple practice of hand washing with soap and water
before eating or handling food, after urination and defecation resulted in
reduction of diarrhoeal incidence which ranged from 47-73%.6
About 90% of infections are
carried to the body through the mouth with water, food, finger, dirt etc. Here
we can realize the importance of personal cleanliness hygienic habits.
For this reasons, people should
be provided with sufficient knowledge of personal hygiene through health
education.
80% of the people of Bangladesh
live in rural areas.7 They are illiterate, poor, unaware about poor habits and
deprived from health services. They should be made conscious about healthful
living.
A school is the main foundation
of education. It is the school education that has that has got an infinite role
to make an individual perfect. A great emphasis should be given on health
education about basic health problems and on personal hygiene and these
subjects must be included with great importance in the syllabus of the school
students.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
It was a descriptive type of
cross sectional study conducted on four selected high school of Bhaluka
Thana
The sample size was one hundred
and twenty.
Research instrument was
structured questionnaire. It was pre tested and final questionnaire was
prepared.
Data was collected by face to
face interview using questionnaire.
The respondents were selected by
simple random sampling.
After collection of data those
were checked, compiled and tabulated. A master sheet was prepared. Calculation
was done manually with a scientific calculator. Data was analyzed on the basis
of variables and comparison between different variables was done. Then
according to objectives of the study various tables were prepared, analyzed and
statistical tests were done where necessary.
RESULTS
Out of 120 respondents maximum
children belong to 13 years (54.17%), and least belonged to 12 years (2.5%).
It is revealed from this study
that among 120 respondents fathers of 19 children (15.83%) and mothers of 31
children (25.83%) were illiterate.
It is observed that father of 120
respondents 40.83% were cultivators, 30.83% were service holders, 15.83% were
business, 1.67% were day laborer and 6.67% were others.
All use tube well water for
drinking, but for other domestic 67.17% used tube well water, .83% tap water,
25.83% pond water, 2.5% well water and 1.67% river water.
It is seen that 26.67% have water
sealed latrine, 36.67% have kacha latrine, 19.16% have pucca latrine, and 10%
have hanging latrine and 7.5% use open field or jungle for defecation.
84.17% of the respondents
answered diarrheal disease are consequence of not washing hand before food,
1.67% answered helminthiasis, 5% answered both diarrhea and helminthias is the
consequences and .83% answered others as the consequences 8.3% did not know the
consequences of not washing hand.
Majority of respondents 53.33%
did not know the ill effect of irregular bathing. Only 13.33% could tell the
consequence of it as skin disease.
Only 5% among 120 respondents
knew that improper hand washing after defecation can cause warm infestation,
15.83% did not the consequence of improper hand washing after defecation.
10% of the respondents could not
reply how to take care of hair. About the consequences of irregular head
washing 27.5% did not know about it. 11.67% told dandruff and lice as the
consequences of irregular head washing.
71.67% told that tooth paste
should be used for cleaning teeth, 6.6% told majon, 3.3% coal / ash, 6.67% nim or
other plant twig, 2.5% told both tooth paste and majon, 8.33% answered both
tooth paste and plant twig, .83% answered that coal ash and neem twig
should be used for cleaning
teeth. 75.83% answered that consequences of
not cutting nails are diarrheal diseases,
3.33% answered helminthiasis, 83% answered others and 14.18% did not knew the
consequences of not cutting nails regularly.
50% did not know the consequences
of remaining as bare footed always, 45.83% responded hook warm infestation, 83%
responded skin diseases and 3.34% responded others about it.
Regarding harmness of dirty teeth
20.83% replied pyorrhea, 22.5% dental caries, 9.17% foul smell, 10% replied as
both pyorrhea and caries. 9.17% pyorrhea and foul smell, 83% caries and foul
smell and 27.5% did not know the harmful effect of not brushing teeth
regularly.
19.17% respondents told that the
consequence of using coal /ash for cleaning teeth is pyorrhea, 2.5% caries,
2.5% not harmful, 56.67% did not know the harmful effect, 3.33% pyorrhea and
caries, 15.83% replied as others.
To assess the level of knowledge
regarding personal hygiene, the respondents were categorized into three types.
Total score of knowledge was 18, those who scored 15 and above were considered
to have good knowledge. Having scored 10-14 were regarded to have fair knowledge
and scoring 9 or less were regarded as having poor knowledge.
Maximum respondents58.33% had
fair knowledge, 19.17% had good knowledge ana22.5% found to have poor
knowledge.
Chi square test was performed and
found there was no significant relationship between age of the respondents and
their knowledge regarding personal hygiene.
Chi square test was done and
there was found an association between knowledge level and sex.
Chi square test was performed to
find out the relationship between knowledge and educational status and found
that there is significant association between them.
Chi square test was performed
between the agriculture and the service to find out the relationship between
the knowledge and occupation of fathers and significant association was found.
Chi square test was performed
among the lower class and upper middle class to find out the relationship
between knowledge and economic status of the family and significant association
was found between them.
Table–1. Distribution of respondents by knowledge regarding the
consequences of not washing hand before eating
Consequences
|
No. of respondents
|
Percentage
|
Diarrheal Disease
|
101
|
84.17
|
Helminthiasis
|
2
|
1.67
|
Diarrhea & Helminthiasis
|
6
|
5.00
|
Others
|
1
|
0.83
|
Not known
|
10
|
8.33
|
Total
|
120
|
100
|
Table-II. Distribution of respondents by their knowledge about
materials used for cleaning teeth
Materials used
|
No. of respondents
|
Percentage
|
Tooth paste
|
86
|
17.67
|
Majon
|
8
|
6.67
|
Coal/Ash
|
4
|
3.33
|
Neem or other plant- twig
|
8
|
6.67
|
Tooth paste & majon
|
3
|
2.50
|
Tooth paste & plant twig
|
10
|
8.33
|
Coal/ash & neem twig
|
1
|
.83
|
Total
|
120
|
100
|
Table III. Distribution of respondent’s knowledge by the effect of non
cutting nails regularly.
Consequences
|
No. of respondents
|
Percentage
|
Diarrheal diseases
|
91
|
|
Helminthiasis
|
4
|
|
Diarrhea & helminthiasis
|
7
|
|
Others
|
1
|
|
Not known
|
17
|
|
Total
|
120
|
100
|
Table IV. Distribution of respondents by their knowledge regarding
personal hygiene and diseases related to personal hygiene.
Level of knowledge
|
No. of respondents
|
Percentage
|
Good
|
23
|
|
Fair
|
70
|
|
Poor
|
27
|
|
Total
|
120
|
100
|
Table V. Distribution of the respondents by their knowledge regarding
personal hygiene and disease related to personal hygiene according to their
father’s occupation.
Occupation
of fathers
|
Level of knowledge
|
Total
|
|||||
Good
|
%
|
Fair
|
%
|
Poor
|
%
|
||
Agriculture
|
7
|
13.21
|
28
|
53.83
|
18
|
33.96
|
53
|
Service
|
12
|
30.77
|
26
|
66.67
|
1
|
2.56
|
39
|
Business
|
3
|
16.67
|
10
|
55.56
|
5
|
27.78
|
18
|
Day laborer
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
100
|
3
|
Unemployed
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
100
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
Others
|
1
|
25
|
3
|
75
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
Total
|
23
|
70
|
27
|
120
|
|||
Table V (A),
Occupation
of fathers
|
Level of knowledge
|
Total
|
||
Good
|
Fair
|
Poor
|
||
Agriculture
|
7
|
28
|
18
|
53
|
Service
|
12
|
26
|
1
|
39
|
Total
|
19
|
54
|
19
|
92
|
X2=14.8, df=2, p<.05
Table VI. Distribution of respondents by their knowledge regarding
personal hygiene disease related to personal hygiene according to the economic
status of their families.
Economic
status
|
Level of knowledge
|
Total
|
|||||
Good
|
Fair
|
Poor
|
|||||
Lower class
|
1
|
3.7
|
14
|
51.85
|
12
|
44.44
|
27
|
Lower middle class
|
10
|
17.86
|
32
|
57.14
|
14
|
25
|
56
|
Upper middle class
|
8
|
25.81
|
22
|
70.97
|
1
|
3.33
|
31
|
Upper class
|
4
|
66.67
|
2
|
33.33
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
Total
|
23
|
70
|
27
|
120
|
|||
Table VI (A)
Economic
status
|
Level of knowledge
|
Total
|
||
Good
|
Fair
|
Poor
|
||
Upper class
|
1
|
14
|
12
|
27
|
Upper middle class
|
8
|
22
|
1
|
31
|
Total
|
9
|
36
|
13
|
58
|
X2=16.33, df=2, p<.05
DISCUSSION
In this descriptive cross
sectional study, an attempt has been made to assess the level of knowledge
regarding personal hygiene among the students of class eight of four high
schools in rural area. Total numbers of respondents were 120 of which 60 were
boys and 60 were girls.
Among these respondents, maximum
belonged to age 13years (54.27%), next was 14 years (35.85%) and minimum
respondents were 12 years old (2.5%).
Majority of the respondents were
Muslims (91.67%) and very little numbers were Hindus (8.83%).
Majority of the respondents had a
family 4-5 members 41.67% and 6-7 members family were 30.83%. Average household
size was 6.5. These findings are a little
higher than national average household size which is 5.6. 5
In this study it was found that
all respondents use tube well water for drinking purpose. 69.17% of the
respondents use tube well water for all other domestic purposes and 25.83% use
pond water for the same purpose.
26.67% families of the
respondents were found to use water seal latrines. But according to statistical
pocket book of Bangladesh/96 it is 11.87% in rural areas. In this study it is higher;
probably the cause is provision of financial loans sanctioned by various NGOs
on condition that they must buy a water seal type of latrine. 7.5% of the
respondents used open field or jungle for defecation.
Economic statuses of the families
of majority of respondents were lower middle class 46.67%, only 5% of the
respondents were upper class status.
There was one interesting finding
regarding the use coal or ash for cleaning teeth. Some respondents told that
these are not harmful for teeth, rather they clean the teeth more easily and
make the teeth brighter. Majority of the respondents 56.67% did not know the
consequences of using coal or ash for cleaning teeth.
Only 3.33% students know that
dirty nails can cause helminthic infestation. Some had misconception about
dirty nails as they told that it cause tetanus.
Eggs of warms may be directly
conveyed to the mouth by infected nails particularly in children if they do not
cut short their finger nails. School students should have knowledge about the
consequences of not cutting nails regularly.
50% of the respondents did not
know the harmful effects of remaining bare footed. Some of them had
misconception about it. One told that it can cause malaria and another student
gave an interesting answer. He told that bare foot is not harmful rather it
increases visuality of the eyes. So according to his opinion it is beneficial
for eyes.
Some students had misconception
about the consequences of not proper hand washing before meals or after
defecation. Some told malaria, some told tetanus as a result not washing hand
before eating or after defecation. Only 1.67% students knew that helminthiasis
may be outcome of it.
Practice of hand washing can
reduce incidence of diarrhea and helminthiasis. Use of soap before eating or
handling food and after defecation can reduce diarrhea incidence range from 47
to 73%.6
People who walk bare footed are
subjected to hook warm infection. So shool students should have clear
conception about the importance of hand washing before meal and after
defecation and also putting on shoes.
Majority of the respondents
56.67% did not know the consequences of wearing dirty clothes. 27.5% did not
know the ill effect of not brushing teeth regularly.
Scoring the knowledge among the
respondents regarding personal hygiene and on consequence in relation to it was
done and found that it was inadequate. 19.17% had good, 58.33% had fair and
22.55 had poor knowledge. A similar study in secondary school students in
Bardwan district of West Bengal was done and found that knowledge regarding
personal hygiene among secondary school students was relatively poor.12
The study showed that girls had
better than that the boys in general. This may be due to more consciousness
about personal cleanliness among the girls.
Mother’s level of education had a
great influence on the knowledge level of the students. Occupation of the father
had a significant influence on the level of knowledge among the respondents.
Students of non agricultural families had relatively better knowledge. Similar
findings were seen in a study conducted in West Bengal
of India.14
There was a strong association
between the level of knowledge and economic status of the family. Students of
upper class status had better knowledge than those of poor families. Similar
findings were seen by a study in rural West Bengal
of India.14
Finding from this study pointed towards
the fact that in schools poper attention had not been given in imparting
knowledge of the health to the students. Some important information about
knowledge regarding personal hygiene and consequences of improper maintenances
of personal hygiene has been found in this study.
By improving exposure to
information system, knowledge and thereby practice to lead a healthful life can
be improved. By providing appropriate health education in proper way a healthier
can be achieved.
CONCLUSION
A student of class eight should
have sufficient knowledge regarding personal hygiene. But the knowledge on this
subject among them is not adequate. Activities of the school
Classes have better knowledge on
personal hygiene on the consequences of not maintaining some healthful
practices.
The poor status of knowledge on
personal health of the school student is probably due to ignorance and lack of
practice in personal hygiene among the parents, lack of consciousness of the
teachers and lack of school health activities. The village dwellers are always
exposed to ill effects of socioeconomic and environmental degradation
References:
- Park K. Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine.
14th edn.
- Park J.E. &Park K. Text Book of Preventive &
Social Medicine. 8th edn.
- Bedi Yash Pal. A Hand Book of Hygiene & Public Health. 13th edn. Amritsar, Anand Publishing Co. 1977;563.
- Ghose B.N. ATreatise on Hygiene & Public Health. 15th edn. Calcutta, Scientic Publishing Co,1969;744,
- Statistical Pocket Book. Bangladesh Bureau of statistics, 1996; 408.
- Shahid Nigar S, Greenough WB, Samadi AR, Haq MI &
RahmanN. Hand Washing with Soap Reduces Diarrhoea and Spread of Bacterial
Pathogens in a
- Yarham Colin L. International Symposium on Health Education in Schools. HYGIE.1986; 5:55.
- Khatun Selina, A Study on Knowledge Regarding Hygiene
among Class five Students of Selected Primary Schools. NIPSOM.
- Schaub R. Dental Health and Public Policy. American J. of Public Health. 1985; 75:27-30.
- Absar Nurul. A Study on Organization of School Health
Services in
- Kochar V. Social Aspect of Sanitation and Personal
Hygiene in Rural
- Roger TA. Some Common Health Problems. 1st
edn.
- Steven J. and Louis K. Dental Caries – Prevalence in Children with a Diet free of Refined Sugar. Am. J. of Public Health. 1983; 73:1196-99.
- Nikias M. Oral Diseases and Quality of Life. Am. J. of Public Health. 1995; 75:11-12.
- School Children. The Hygeia. 1988; 3:9-12.
- Hussain T, Hussain MA, Rahman M and Banu FA. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in the Context of Socioeconomic Status in the Rural Community. The Hygeia. 1990;4:105-9
- Feachem R. Is Cholera Primarily Water Borne? The Lancet. 1976; 2:957-58.
- Khan MU. Interpretation of Shigellosis by Hand Washing. Transactions’ of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1982; 76(2):164-8.
- Khan MU. Role of Water and Sanitation in the Incidence of Cholera in Refugee camp. Transactions’ of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1982; 76(3):373-77.
- Mahmuda C. A Study on Personal Hygiene of The Slam
Dwellers of a Selected Area and in
- Aziz KMA. Hasan KZ, Patwary Y, Rahman MM and Aziz
KMS. A Study of The Interpersonal Spread of Human Feces in Rural Teknuf of
Nice post. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletetelugu cinema news and gossips