International Journal of Healthcare Sciences ISSN 2348-5728 (Online) Vol. 9, Issue 2, pp: (38-43), Month: October 2021 - March 2022, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Hygiene among adolescent in Bangkok, Thailand: A cross sectional study 1
Naytitorn Chaovirachot Suankularb Wittayalai School
Abstract: Background: Personal hygiene is one of the key foundations of infection prevention and control. Poor personal hygiene attributed to inadequate knowledge. Purpose: To assess personal hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice Methodology: This was a cross-sectional observational study. An online questionnaire was purposely developed and made available through Google Form between 1 Jun 21 and 30 Jun 21. Findings: A total of 158 responses, all were male participants, and most participants were studying in grade 12 (n=88,55.7%). Participants showed a moderate level of personal hygiene knowledge, correctly answering on the average score of 10.91 (SD=2.14). Participants revealed a favourable attitude toward personal hygiene at an average score of 4.63 (SD=0.67). Participants reported a moderate level of personal hygiene engagement at an average score of 50.18 (SD=6.21) from 14 hygiene practices analysed. Grade 10 students had the highest average knowledge, attitude, and practice average scores of 11.16 (SD=1.78), 4.63 (SD=0.67) and (M=51.87, SD=6.07) respectively. Having a positive attitude toward personal hygiene predicted the adoption of those personal hygiene (EXP B= 0.201, p<0.01). Conclusion: Participants revealed moderate knowledge about personal hygiene, favourable attitude, and moderate level of personal hygiene practice. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between hygiene practice and knowledge and attitude toward personal hygiene. Attitude toward personal hygiene was a predictive factor for personal hygiene practice adoption. Hence, in order to improve personal hygiene practice among students, personal hygiene practice should be promoted by enhancing students’ knowledge and attitude through classes or activities both at schools and by their parents at their homes as students are more receptive to learning and are very likely to adopt healthy behaviors at a younger age. Keywords: Personal hygiene, adolescent, secondary school students.
1. INTRODUCTION Personal hygiene plays a major role in promoting a healthy life. Personal hygiene has long been a major public health issue. Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene is the practice of keeping the body clean. Good hygienic care as well as practices in terms of personal hygiene contributes to a large extent on factors relating to healthful living and prevention of hazards from diseases. These health risk factors are directly related to some important daily activities implicated with worthy operational actions and obligatory responsibilities, such as washing hands before meals and after defecation with soap, brushing teeth at least twice a day specially after breakfast and after meals, taking bath with soap regularly, keeping nails short and taking regular exercise (1).
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