Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hand Washing among Aderash Primary Schoolchildren in Yirgalem Town, Southern Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of Schoolchildren at Aderash Primary School

	n (%)		n (%)
Sex		Mothers’ occupation
Male	150 (53.8)	Employee	89 (31.9)
Female	129 (46.2)	Private worker	91 (32.61)
Age-group		Daily laborer	30 (10.75)
9–12 years	80 (28.7)	Farmers	69 (24.73)
13–15 years	162 (58.1)	Family’s monthly income (ETB)
>15 years	37 (13.3)	<1,000	84 (30.1)
Grade of students		1,000–1,500	88 (31.54)
Grade 5	38 (13.6)	>1,500	107 (38.35)
Grade 6	105 (37.6)	Mothers’ education
Grade 7	52 (18.6)	Cannot read or write	57 (20.43)
Grade 8	84 (30.1)	Grade 1–8	123 (44.1)
		Grade 9–12	49 (17.62)
Illness diagnosed		Diploma or higher	50 (17.92)
Respiratory tract infection	70 (25.1)	Residence
Intestinal parasite	51 (18.3)	Rural	79 (28.3)
None	158 (56.6)	Urban	200 (71.7)

Note: ETB1 = US$0.0316 during the study period.

Table 2 Knowledge of Hand Washing Among Schoolchildren at Aderash Primary School

Questions	Response	n	%
Do you have information on hand washing with soap? (n=279)	Yes	251	89.9
	No	28	10.1
Do you when Global Handwashing Day is? (n=251)	Yes	3	1.2
	No	248	98.8
How did you find out about Global Handwashing Day? (n=251)	Television	69	27.5
	Teachers	46	18.3
	Family	55	21.9
	Health worker	81	32.3
Unclean hands are a way for disease to be transmitted . Do you agree with this?	Yes	248	88.9
	No	31	11.1
There are risks of food and water contamination if we do not wash our hands with soap. When? (n=279)	After toilet	177	63.4
	Before meal	77	27.6
	After meal	17	6.1
	After work	8	2.9
If you fail to wash your hands, you cannot be exposed to disease. Do you agree with this? (n=279)	Strongly agree	17	6.1
	Agree	40	14.3
	Disagree	24	8.6
	Strongly disagree	198	71.0
Parents or teachers have advised you to wash your hands. Do you agree with this? (n=279)	Strongly agree	157	56.3
	Agree	41	14.7
	Disagree	54	19.3
	Strongly disagree	27	9.7
When do you wash your hands? (n=279)	After toilet	169	60.6
	Before meal	70	25.1
	After meal	30	10.8
	After play	2	0.7
	After work	8	2.9
What is the benefit of hand washing with clean water and soap? (n=266)	Health promotion	160	60.1
	Prevention of disease transmission	74	27.8
	To be beautiful	32	12.0
Overall knowledge level (n=279)	Good	175	62.7
	Poor	104	37.3

Table 3 Attitudes Toward Hand Washing Among Schoolchildren at Aderash Primary School

Questions	Response	n	%
Doo human feces contain germs? (n=279)	Yes	216	77.4
	No	63	22.6
Does poor hand washing expose one to disease? (n=279)	Yes	196	70.3
	No	83	29.7
Do you think that only water is enough for washing hands? (n=279)	Yes	99	35.5
	No	180	64.5
Is washing hands with soap needed after coughing or sneezing? (n=279)	Yes	198	71.0
	No	81	29.0
If you fail to wash your hands, can they transmit infectious agents? (n=279)	Yes	222	79.5
	No	57	20.5
If you wash your hands well with water, do you need to use soap? (n=279)	Yes	129	46.2
	No	150	53.8
If your hands look dirty or smell bad, do you need to wash your hands with water and soap? (n=279)	Yes	206	73.8
	No	73	26.2
Do you think that washing your hands with soap is important before eating? (n=279)	Yes	262	96.7
	No	8	3.0
Overall attitude level (n=279)	Positive	171	61.3
	Negative	108	38.7

Table 4 Knowledge of Hand Washing Among Schoolchildren in Relation to Different Variables at Aderash Primary School

	Knowledge			Knowledge
	Good 175 (%)	Poor 104 (%)		Good 175 (%)	Poor 104 (%)
Sex			Mothers’ occupation
Male	81 (29.03)	69 (24.73)	Employee	76 (27.24)	13 (4.7)
Female	94 (33.69)	35 (12.54)	Private worker	59 (21.15)	32 (11.5)
Age-group			Daily laborer	9 (3.22)	21 (7.52)
9–12 years	54 (19.35)	26 (9.32)	Farmer	27 (9.68)	42 (15.05)
13–15years	101 (36.2)	61 (21.86)	Family’s monthly income (ETB)
>15 years	20 (7.16)	17 (6.09)	<1,000	50 (17.92)	34 (12.19)
Grade			1,000–1,500	51 (18.28)	37 (13.26)
Grade 5	20 (7.17)	18 (6.45)	>1,500	70 (25.09)	37 (13.26)
Grade 6	61 (21.86)	44 (15.80)	Mothers’ education
Grade 7	33 (11.83)	19 (6.81)	Cannot read or write	30 (10.75)	27 (9.68)
Grade 8	57 (20.43)	27 (9.68)	Grade 1–8	75 (26.9)	48 (17.2)
Illness diagnosed			Grade 9–12	38 (13.62)	11 (3.94)
Respiratory tract infection	44 (15.8)	26 (9.32)	Diploma or higher	33 (11.83)	17 (6.1)
Intestinal parasite	16 (5.73)	35 (12.54)	Residence
None	113 (40.5)	45 (16.13)	Rural	45 (16.13)	34 (12.19)
			Urban	124 (44.4)	76 (27.24)

Note: ETB1 = US$0.0316 during the study period.

Table 5 Attitudes of Schoolchildren Toward Hand Washing in Relation to Different Variables at Aderash Primary School

	Total, n (%)	Attitude
		Positive 171 (%)	Negative 108 (%)
Sex
Male	150 (53.8)	79 (28.32)	71 (25.45)
Female	129 (46.2)	92 (32.97)	37 (13.26)
Age-group
9–12 years	80 (28.7)	52 (18.63)	28 (10.03)
13–15 years	162 (58.1)	99 (35.48)	63 (22.58)
>15 years	37 (13.3)	20 (7.17)	17 (6.09)
Mothers’ education
Cannot read or write	45 (16.13)	18 (6.5)	27 (9.7)
Grade 1–8	123 (44.1)	84 (30.11)	39 (13.97)
Grade 9–12	61 (21.86)	36 (12.9)	25 (8.96)
Diploma or higher	50 (17.92)	33 (11.83)	17 (6.09)
Mothers’ occupation
Employee	89 (31.9)	73 (26.2)	16 (5.7)
Private	91 (32.62)	61 (21.9)	30 (10.7)
Daily laborer	30 (10.75)	11 (3.9)	19 (6.8)
Farmer	69 (24.73)	22 (7.9)	47 (16.8)
Residence
Rural	79 (28.32)	49 (17.6)	30 (10.7)
Urban	200 (71.7)	122 (43.7)	78 (27.9)
Family’s monthly income (ETB)
<1,000	84 (30.11)	60 (21.5)	24 (8.6)
1,000–1,500	88 (31.54)	66 (23.7)	22 (7.9)
>1,500	107 (38.35)	76	31 (11.1)

Note: ETB1 = US$0.0316 during the study period.

Table 6 Hand-Washing Practices of Schoolchildren in Aderash Primary School

Questions	Response	Frequency
		n	%
Do you wash your hands in the morning?	Yes	279	100
	No	0	—
If yes, what materials do you use?	Water and soap	246	88.2
	Water only	33	11.8
For how long do you wash your hands at a time?	30 seconds to 1 minute	68	24.4
	< 30 seconds	174	62.4
	I do not know	37	13.3
When do you wash your hands?	After toilet	67	24.0
	Before meals	158	56.6
	After meals	26	9.3
	After play	10	3.6
	After work	18	6.5
Do you wash your hands with water and soap before meals?	Always (regularly)	64	22.9
	Very often	68	24.4
	Often	109	39.1
	Sometimes	29	10.4
	Never	9	3.2
Overall practice level	Good	109	39.1
	Poor	170	60.9

Table 7 Hand-Washing Practices of Schoolchildren in Relation to Different Variables in Aderash Primary School (n=109)

	Hand-Washing Practices				Hand-Washing Practices
	Good, n (%)	Poor, n (%)			Good, n (%)	Poor, n (%)
Sex			Residence
Male	47 (16.85)	103 (36.9)	Rural		29 (10.39)	50 (17.92)
Female	62 (22.22)	67 (24.01)	Urban		80 (28.67)	120 (43.0)
Age-group			Family’s monthly income (ETB)
9–12 years	32 (11.47)	48 (17.20)	<1,000		27 (9.68)	57 (20.43)
13–15 years	64 (22.94)	98 (35.13)	1,000–1,500		32 (11.47)	56 (20.07)
>15 years	13 (4.66)	24 (8.60)	>1,500		50 (17.92)	57 (20.43)
Mothers’ education			Illness diagnosed
Cannot read or write	17 (6.1)	30 (10.7)	Diarrhea		7 (2.51)	11 (3.94)
Grade 1–8	38 (13.62)	85 (30.47)	Respiratory tract infection		24 (8.6)	46 (16.49)
Grade 9–12	21 (7.5)	28 (10.03)	Intestinal parasite		12 (4.3)	39 (13.98)
Diploma or higher	21 (7.53)	29 (10.39)	None		102 (36.5)	56 (20.1)
Mothers’ occupation
Employee	46 (16.49)	43 (15.41)
Private	42 (15.05)	49 (17.56)
Daily laborer	7 (2.50)	23 (8.24)
Farmer	14 (5.02)	55 (19.71)

Note: ETB1 = US$0.0316 during the study period.

Table 8 Factors Associated with Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hand Washing Among Schoolchildren in Aderash Primary School

Explanatory variables	Outcome Variables (with 95% CI)
	Knowledge of Hand Washing		Attitudes Toward Hand Washing		Practices of Hand Washing
	COR	AOR	COR	AOR	COR	AOR
Sex: Male	1.5 (0.95–2.5)	1.3 (0.871–3.1)	NA	NA	0.4 (0.08–1.9)	0.4 (0.32–1.9)
Female	1.00	1.00	NA	NA	1.00	1.00
Age-group: 9–12 years	0.45 (0.184–0.91)	0.4 (0.17–0.95)*	NA	NA	0.05 (0.01–0.3)**	0.1 (0.03–0.3)**
13–15 years	0.53 (0.28–1.18)	0.6 (0.3–1.1)	NA	NA	0.1 (0.03–0.3)*	0.2 (0.09–0.6)*
>15 years	1.00	1.00	NA	NA	1.00	1.00
Residence Urban	1.6 (1.3–3.7)*	1.3 (1.2–2.85)*	0.6 (0.6–2.0)	0.5 (0.7–2.0)	0.24 (0.5–0.8)	0.3 (0.17–0.7)
Rural	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00
Mothers’ occupation
Employee	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00
Private worker	0.16 (0.02–1.2)	0.5 (0.14–1.5)	0.7 (0.4–1.5)	0.85 (0.6–1.9)	0.16 (0.02–1.2)	0.46 (0.1–1.5)
Daily laborer	0.01 (0.001–0.09)	0.05 (0.01–0.8)*	2.2 (0.7–7.3)	1.0 (0.8–6.9)	0.01 (0.001–0.1)	0.05 (0.01–0.3)*
Farmer	0.09 (0.09–1.00)	0.26 (0.6–1.07)	5.6 (0.6–46.7)	1.9 (0.4–8.6)	0.09 (0.009–1.0)	0.26 (0.6–1.1)
Family’s monthly income (ETB)
<1,000	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00
1,000–1,500	0.24 (0.05–1.1)	0.2 (0.1–1.5)	0.2 (0.6–1.1)	0.47 (0.7–2.3)	2.1 (0.7–6.4)	1.9 (0.6–5.9)
>1,500	0.32 (0.61–2.0)	0.3 (0.35–1.1)	0.24 (0.05–1.1)	0.23 (0.4–1.4)	4.2 (0.5–4.5)	1.3 (0.7–3.4)
Mothers’ education
Unable to read and write	0.37 (0.1–1.1)	0.3 (0.10–0.8)*	0.37 (0.1–1.1)	0.29 (0.10–0.8)	4.6 (0.7–29.9)	0.3 (0.1–0.74)*
Grade 1–8	1.7 (0.85–3.4)	0.9 (0.4–1.7)	1.7 (0.85–3.4)	0.87 (0.4–1.7)	39.7 (5.6–283)**	1.62 (0.7–3.53)
Grade 9–12	0.48 (0.2–1.25)	0.6 (0.3–1.4)	0.5 (0.2–1.2)	0.6 (0.28–1.4)	9.7 (1.2–78.1)*	0.48 (0.2–1.1)
Diploma or higher	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00

Notes: TB1 = US$0.0316 US dollar during the study period; *p<0.05; **p<0.01; NA, p>0.25.