Total Viewers

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Personal Hygiene & the High School Students of Bangladesh


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 in Mymensing district, during the period from April 2005 to June 2005 among the students of class eight of two selected boys high schools and two girls high schools.

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:



  1. Park K. Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine. 14th edn. Jabalpur, M/S. Banarsidas Bhanot, 1994; 538.
  2. Park J.E. &Park K. Text Book of Preventive & Social Medicine. 8th edn. Jabalpur Banarasidas Bhanot, 1980;724
  3. Bedi Yash Pal. A Hand Book of Hygiene & Public Health. 13th edn. Amritsar, Anand Publishing Co. 1977;563.
  4. Ghose B.N. ATreatise on Hygiene & Public Health. 15th edn. Calcutta, Scientic Publishing Co,1969;744,
  5. Statistical Pocket Book. Bangladesh Bureau of statistics, 1996; 408.
  6. Shahid Nigar S, Greenough WB, Samadi AR, Haq MI & RahmanN. Hand Washing with Soap Reduces Diarrhoea and Spread of Bacterial Pathogens in a Bangladesh Village. J.- Diarrhoeal Dis. Ris. 1996; 14:85-89.
  7. Yarham Colin L. International Symposium on Health Education in Schools. HYGIE.1986; 5:55.
  8. Khatun Selina, A Study on Knowledge Regarding Hygiene among Class five Students of Selected Primary Schools. NIPSOM. Dhaka. 1995:58.
  9. Schaub R. Dental Health and Public Policy. American J. of Public Health. 1985; 75:27-30.
  10. Absar Nurul. A Study on Organization of School Health Services in Bangladesh. NIPSOM. Dhaka. 1987:41
  11. Anderson CL and Creswell WH. School Health Practice. 6th edn. Saint Louis, The C.V. Musby Co. 1976:452.
  12. Biswas AB, Roy AK, Das KK, Sen AK and Biswas RA. Study of the Impact of Health Education Imparted to School Children on their Knowledge Attitude and Practice in regard to Personal Hygiene. Indian J. of Public Health. 1990; 34:86-90.
  13. Dutta CA. A Study on Personal Hygiene of The Workers and Sanitation of Selected number Hotel and Restaurants in Dhaka City. NIPSOM, Dhaka. 1988:72.
  14. Kochar V. Social Aspect of Sanitation and Personal Hygiene in Rural Bengal Region. Indian J. of Preventive and Social Medicine. 1977; 17:106-17.
  15. Roger TA. Some Common Health Problems. 1st edn. Honolulu. The MEDEX Primary Health Care Series. 1983:47.
  16. 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.
  17. Nikias M. Oral Diseases and Quality of Life. Am. J. of Public Health. 1995; 75:11-12.
  18.  School Children. The Hygeia. 1988; 3:9-12.
  19. 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
  20. Feachem R. Is Cholera Primarily Water Borne? The Lancet. 1976; 2:957-58.
  21. Khan MU. Interpretation of Shigellosis by Hand Washing. Transactions’ of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1982; 76(2):164-8.
  22. 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.
  23. Mahmuda C. A Study on Personal Hygiene of The Slam Dwellers of a Selected Area and  in Dhaka City. NIPSOM, Dhaka. 1994:83.
  24. Aziz KMA. Hasan KZ, Patwary Y, Rahman MM and Aziz KMS. A Study of The Interpersonal Spread of Human Feces in Rural Teknuf of Bangladesh. Special publication20, ICDDRB, Dhaka. 1983:238-42.

1 comment: