Open AccessPERCEPTION OF HAND HYGIENE HABIT AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AMONGST THE STUDENTS OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA
Author(s) -
A. A. R. Adebambo,
Funmilola T Ojo,
T. O. O. Uthman
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
african journal of health safety and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2695-2386
pISSN - 2695-1819
DOI - 10.52417/ajhse.v2i2.140
Subject(s) - habit , hygiene , hand washing , toileting , curriculum , tertiary institution , medicine , psychology , environmental health , family medicine , medical education , pedagogy , physical therapy , activities of daily living , social psychology , pathology
Hand hygiene habits and the knowledge of their health implications were investigated among students of a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey guided by twenty research questions and four research hypotheses was carried out. A total of 400 undergraduates were randomly selected across the five colleges in the University. The highest respondents were of less than 20 years of age (74%), followed by 21-25 years (25%). Two hundred and four (51%) of the respondents claimed that water which is vital to hand hygiene habit is scarce, 124 (31%) wash hands before meal only, 96(24%) wash hands after toileting, however, 368 (92%) had knowledge that good handwashing habit prevents diseases and infestations. Massive campaigns and awareness are subjacent to improve the culture and habit of hand-washing. Hygiene education should be introduced in all academic curricula to guide in the prevention of the rapid spread of epidemics of which hand seems the first contact of disease infestation.