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Hand-washing practices among adolescents aged 12-15 years from 80 countries

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posted on 2023-07-26, 15:12 authored by Lee Smith, Laurie T. Butler, Mark A. Tully, Louis Jacob, Yvonne A. Barnett, Guillermo F. López-Sánchez, Rubén López-Bueno, Jae Il Shin, Daragh T. McDermott, Briona Pfeifer, Damiano Pizzol, Ai Koyanagi
The objectives were to (1) assess the prevalence of hand-washing practices across 80 countries and (2) assess frequency of hand-washing practice by economic status (country income and severe food insecurity), in a global representative sample of adolescents. Cross-sectional data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003–2017 were analyzed. Data on age, sex, hand-washing practices in the past 30 days, and severe food insecurity (i.e., proxy of socioeconomic status) were self-reported. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis with random effects based on country-wise estimates were conducted to assess associations. Adolescents (n = 209,584) aged 12–15 years [mean (SD) age 13.8 (1.0) years; 50.9% boys] were included in the analysis. Overall, the prevalence of hand-washing practices were as follows: never/rarely washing hands before eating (6.4%), after using toilet (5.6%), or with soap (8.8%). The prevalence of never/rarely washing hands after using the toilet (10.8%) or with soap (14.3%) was particularly high in low-income countries. Severe food insecurity was associated with 1.34 (95%CI = 1.25–1.43), 1.61 (95%CI = 1.50–1.73), and 1.44 (95%CI = 1.35–1.53) times higher odds for never/rarely washing hands before eating, after using the toilet, and with soap, respectively. A high prevalence of inadequate hand washing practices was reported, particularly in low-income countries and those with severe food insecurity. In light of the present COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid expansion being observed in low- and middle-income locations, interventions that disseminate good hand-washing practices are urgently required. Such interventions may also have cross-over benefits in relation to other poor sanitation-related diseases.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

18

Issue number

1

Page range

138

Publication title

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

ISSN

1660-4601

Publisher

MDPI

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2021-01-05

Legacy creation date

2021-01-05

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Science & Engineering

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