Hand hygiene knowledge and practice among university students: evidence from Private Universities of Bangladesh

Figures & data

Table 1 Background information of participants

Variables	n (%)	95% CI
Age (yrs) (mean ± SD)	20.4±1.8	(20.1, 20.6)
Age group
<19 years	30 (15.0)	(10.7, 20.7)
19–20 years	94 (47.0)	(40.1, 54.0)
21–22 years	51 (25.5)	(19.9, 32.1)
≥23 years	25 (12.5)	(8.6, 17.9)
Sex
Male	137 (68.5)	(61.7, 74.6)
Female	63 (31.5)	(25.4, 38.3)
Marital status
Married	55 (27.5)	(21.7, 34.2)
Unmarried	145 (72.5)	(65.8, 78.3)
Religion
Muslim	131 (65.5)	(58.6, 71.8)
Non-Muslim	69 (34.5)	(28.2, 41.4)
Educational status
First year	29 (14.5)	(10.2, 20.1)
Second year	102 (51.0)	(44.0, 57.9)
Third year	38 (19.0)	(14.1, 25.1)
Fourth year	31 (15.5)	(11.1, 21.3)
Mother’s education
Up to primary	32 (16.0)	(11.5, 21.8)
Secondary	44 (22.0)	(16.8, 28.3)
Higher secondary	81 (40.5)	(33.9, 47.5)
Higher	43 (21.5)	(16.3, 27.8)
Father’s education
Up to primary	21 (10.5)	(6.9, 15.6)
Secondary	20 (10.0)	(6.5, 15.0)
Higher secondary	78 (39.0)	(32.4, 46.0)
Higher	81 (40.5)	(33.9, 47.5)
Household size, n
<4	32 (16.0)	(11.5, 21.8)
4–5	152 (76.0)	(69.5, 81.5)
>5	16 (8.0)	(4.9, 12.7)
Living condition
With family	115 (57.5)	(50.5, 64.2)
With relatives	28 (14.0)	(9.8, 19.6)
Hostel or with friends	52 (26.0)	(20.3, 32.6)
Others	5 (2.5)	(1.0, 5.9)
Monthly household income (BDT) (mean ± SD)	38,345±14,446.4	(36,330.6,40,359.4)

Abbreviations: BDT, Bangladeshi Taka (currency); CI, confidence interval; yrs, years; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Attitudes to hand hygiene

Attitudes to hand hygiene	n (%)	95% CI
How many times a day do you wash your hands?
Never	1 (00.5)	(0.1, 3.5)
1–2 times	10 (05.0)	(2.7, 9.1)
3–5 times	87 (43.5)	(36.7, 50.5)
6–10 times	57 (28.5)	(22.6, 35.2)
11 or more	45 (22.5)	(17.2, 28.9)
Reasons for skipping handwashing at home
No need	62 (31.0)	(24.9, 37.8)
No available time	13 (06.5)	(3.8, 10.9)
Keep forgetting	104 (52.0)	(45, 58.9)
Far from water and soap	21 (10.5)	(6.9, 15.6)
Poor water supply	3 (01.5)	(0.5, 4.6)
Others	1 (00.5)	(0.1, 3.5)
Reasons for skipping handwashing at university
No need	60 (30.0)	(24, 36.8)
No available time	13 (06.5)	(3.8, 10.9)
Keep forgetting	75 (37.5)	(31, 44.5)
Soap not available	46 (23.0)	(17.6, 29.4)
Poor water supply	7 (03.5)	(1.7, 7.2)
Inadequate facility	3 (01.5)	(0.5, 4.6)
Separate soap available for handwashing at home
Yes	135 (67.8)	(61, 74)
No	64 (32.2)	(26, 39)
How often does your household buy soap?
Weekly	129 (64.5)	(57.6, 70.9)
1–2 weeks	9 (04.5)	(2.3, 8.5)
3–4 weeks	19 (09.5)	(6.1, 14.5)
More than a month	10 (05.0)	(2.7, 9.1)
Do not know	33 (16.5)	(11.9, 22.4)
Do you use instant hand sterilizer when you are outside from home?
Yes	112 (56.0)	(49, 62.8)
No	47 (23.5)	(18.1, 29.9)
Do not know	41 (20.5)	(15.4, 26.7)
How often you cut your nails?
Weekly	167 (83.5)	(77.6, 88.1)
1–2 weeks	15 (07.5)	(4.6, 12.1)
3–4 weeks	12 (06.0)	(3.4, 10.3)
More than a month	6 (03.0)	(1.3, 6.6)
Toilet facility
Kacha	5 (02.5)	(1, 5.9)
Sanitary	162 (81.0)	(74.9, 85.9)
Modern commode	27 (13.5)	(9.4, 19)
Others	6 (03.0)	(1.3, 6.6)
Toilet facility
Hygienic	189 (94.5)	(90.3, 96.9)
Unhygienic	11 (05.5)	(3.1, 9.7)
Handwashing is important to prevent diseases
Yes	166 (83.0)	(77.1, 87.6)
No	34 (17.0)	(12.4, 22.9)
Handwashing is a part of personal hygiene
Yes	157 (78.5)	(72.2, 83.7)
No	43 (21.5)	(16.3, 27.8)

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

Table 3 Knowledge about handwashing

Knowledge about handwashing	n (%)	95% CI
What type of water should be used for handwashing?
Cold water	138 (69.0)	(62.2, 75.1)
Medium hot water	57 (28.5)	(22.6, 35.2)
Hot water	5 (2.5)	(1, 5.9)
How many times are needed for proper handwashing?
Yes	123 (61.5)	(54.5, 68)
No	77 (38.5)	(32, 45.5)
With what you should wash your hand?
Only water	48 (24.0)	(18.5, 30.5)
Water with soap	134 (67.0)	(60.1, 73.2)
Water with ash	16 (8.0)	(4.9, 12.7)
Water with mud	2 (1.0)	(0.2, 4)
Others
Watch and bracelet should be removed during handwashing?
Yes	162 (81.0)	(74.9, 85.9)
No	38 (19.0)	(14.1, 25.1)
Rings should be removed during handwashing?
Yes	137 (68.5)	(61.7, 74.6)
No	53 (26.5)	(20.8, 33.1)
Do not know	10 (5.0)	(2.7, 9.1)
Wrist should be washed during handwashing?
Yes	145 (72.5)	(65.8, 78.3)
No	18 (9.0)	(5.7, 13.9)
Do not know	37 (18.5)	(13.7, 24.5)
Hands need to be dried after washing
Yes	160 (80.0)	(73.8, 85.0)
No	29 (14.5)	(10.2, 20.1)
Do not know	11 (5.5)	(3.1, 9.7)

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

Table 4 Practice toward handwashing

Handwashing practice	Always, n (%)	Sometimes, n (%)	Never, n (%)
Before meals	197 (98.5)	03 (01.5)	–
After meals	183 (91.5)	17 (08.5)	–
After coming from toilet	176 (88.0)	22 (11.0)	02 (01.0)
With water and soap	177 (88.5)	22 (11.0)	01 (00.5)
When come home	167 (83.5)	31 (15.5)	02 (01.0)
After handshaking	143 (71.5)	50 (25.0)	07 (03.5)
Before going to bed	131 (65.5)	63 (31.5)	06 (03.0)
After using public transportation	154 (77.0)	43 (21.5)	03 (01.5)
After waking up in the morning	117 (58.5)	74 (37.0)	09 (04.5)
After touching animals	138 (69.0)	57 (28.5)	05 (02.5)
Only if they are soiled	126 (63.0)	63 (31.5)	11 (05.5)
Before preparing meals	148 (74.0)	42 (21.0)	10 (05.0)
After money exchange	137 (68.5)	54 (27.0)	09 (04.5)
After blowing the nose	145 (72.5)	52 (26.0)	03 (01.5)
After touching garbage	131 (65.5)	63 (31.5)	06 (03.0)
Before touching sick people	128 (64.0)	66 (33.0)	06 (03.0)
After touching sick people	137 (68.5)	58 (29.0)	05 (02.5)
After combing my hair	111 (55.5)	72 (36.0)	17 (08.5)
After cleaning my home	134 (67.0)	38 (19.0)	28 (14.0)
After washing dishes	098 (49.0)	38 (19.0)	64 (32.0)
After doing laundry	071 (35.5)	33 (16.5)	96 (48.0)

Notes: Bold values indicate correct answer. ‘–’ indicates the number of responses is zero in terms of “never practiced” in response to the question.

Table 5 Participants’ handwashing practice score based on some sociodemographic features

Name of the variable	n	Mean	%	SD	SE	95% CI	P-value
Practice score	200	50.81	80.6	4.79	0.33	50.1–51.4	0.000
Sex
Male	137	50.64	80.3	4.85	0.41	49.8–51.4	0.470
Female	63	51.17	81.2	4.65	0.58	50.1–52.3
Marital status
Married	55	49.34	78.3	4.88	0.65	50.0–53.0	0.007
Unmarried	145	51.37	81.3	4.6	0.38	50.1–51.4

Note: P-value was derived from independent t-test.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; SE, standard error; CI, confidence interval.

Table 6 Effect of hand hygiene practice score on different factors

Variables	Practice score (mean ± SD)	Model 1	Model 2
		Unadjusted coefficient (95% CI)	Adjusted coefficient (95% CI)	VIF
Constant			53.8*** (50.9, 56.6)
Age group
<19 years (ref)	54.9±3.6	–	–	–
19–20 years	53.2±5.06	−1.71 (−3.7, 0.24)	−1.4 (−3.23, 0.42)	2.9
21–22 years	51.5±4.61	−3.5*** (−5.6, −1.31)	−2.3** (−4.7, −0.1)	3.5
≥23 years	51.4±4.8	−3.5*** (−5.9, −0.9)	−4.2*** (−7.7, −0.6)	4.7
Sex
Male (ref)	52.6±4.9	–	–	–
Female	53.1±4.7	0.5** (−0.9, 2.0)	0.1 (−1.2, 1.5)	1.4
Marital status
Married (ref)	51.3±5.0	–	–	–
Unmarried	53.4±4.7	2.1*** (0.6, 3.6)	1.9*** (0.5, 3.3)	1.3
Educational status
First year (ref)	51.6±5.2	–	–	–
Second year	53.4±4.9	1.8** (−0.2, 3.9)	1.7 (−0.2, 3.7)	3.3
Third year	52.7±4.6	1.1 (−1.2, 3.4)	3.1*** (0.8, 5.5)	2.9
Fourth year	52.0±4.6	0.41 (−2.0, 2.9)	3.4** (−0.0, 6.7)	4.2
Mother’s education
Up to primary	48.3±3.7	−7.1*** (−9.0, −5.3)	−6.1*** (−8.7, −3.4)	3.2
Secondary	50.3±4.6	−5.1*** (−6.8, −3.4)	−5.2*** (−7.5, −2.9)	3.2
Higher secondary	54.5±3.8	−1 (−2.5, 0.5)	−1.9** (−3.5, −0.2)	2.4
Higher	55.5±4.1	–	–	–
Father’s education
Up to primary	48.4±4.0	−5.7*** (−7.8, −3.5)	−1.69 (−4.1, 0.7)	1.9
Secondary	50.3±4.1	−3.8*** (−6.0, −1.6)	−0.02 (−2.3, 2.3)	1.7
Higher secondary	53.2±4.0	−0.87 (−2.3, 0.5)	0.83 (−0.8, 2.5)	2.3
Higher (ref)	54.1±4.2	–	–	–
Household size, n
<4 (ref)	51.3±4.5	–	–	–
4–5	53.1±5.0	1.80** (−0.0, 3.7)	0.64 (−1.0, 2.2)	1.6
>5	53.3±3.9	2.06 (−0.8, 5.0)	2.78 (0.3, 5.3)	1.6
Living condition
With family (ref)	53.6±4.4	–	–	–
With relatives	51.1±5.6	−2.4** (−4.4, −0.4)	−1.1 (−2.8, 0.63)	1.2
Hostel or with friends	52.1±5.1	−1.45** (−3.0, 0.1)	−0.7 (−2, 0.7)	1.2
Others	51.0±4.7	−2.6 (−6.9, 1.8)	−0.5 (−4.2, 3.2)	1.2
R^2			0.431
F-Statistics			6.78***
Mean (VIF)			2.4
Ramsey RESET			3.72***
Breusch-Pagan/Cook-Weisberg test			χ^2(1) =2.41

Notes:

*** 1% level of significance.

** 5% level of significance.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; CI, confidence interval; VIF, variance inflation factor; ref, reference; RESET, regression equation specification error test.