Assessment of Hand-Washing Habits Among Secondary School Students in Saudi Arabia

The health effects of infectious diseases affecting school-aged children continue to be a source of concern in the majority of low- and middle-income nations, owing to poor personal hygiene habits and insufficient sanitary facilities in public primary schools. Schoolchildren and primary school pupils are at increased risk due to a lack of attention to a fundamental yet crucial aspect of personal hygiene, such as continually washing hands with soap under running water, and even due to a lack of information of correct hand washing with soap practice. In recent years, public health concerns about communicable diseases such as respiratory infection and pneumonia have increased. The majority of school students are more exposed to infectious risk factors as a result of their frequent engagement in unhealthy behaviors. The purpose of this study is to determine the handwashing habits of Saudi Arabian secondary school students. The study employed a cross-sectional design in which an online survey was used to assess handwashing habits. Boys and girls from Saudi Arabia's secondary schools were included in the population. Statistical software was used to synthesize and analyze the data collected. The findings indicate that there was a relatively high level of commitment to hand washing. Additionally, findings indicated that the primary reason for skipping hand washing was a lack of recall. When it comes to handwashing materials in schools, the majority of participants prefer water and soap. The study discovered that the majority of secondary school students are unaware of the dangers associated with improper handwashing. Regression analysis revealed that there are significant predictors of handwashing commitment. Factors influencing secondary school students' handwashing habits include their region, academic year, gender, age, and parent's education. Thus, hygiene education programs in schools and communities should be implemented to raise awareness about the importance of hand hygiene.