Impact of hand washing intervention program on knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene among school children in urban area of Kolhapur city

Background: Good hand hygiene is an important infection control measure as person-to-person contact via hands is a common mode of transmission for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. There are promising results of proper hand washing for reducing many kinds of diseases. For improvement of knowledge and practice of hand washing, health education intervention is very much fruitful. The objectives of the study were to study knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hand washing among primary school children; to study impact of hand washing intervention program on knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene.Methods: The study was conducted from 1st March 2018 to 30th December 2018 in the government aided primary schools of urban area in Kolhapur. Initially baseline school health check-up was done to study knowledge, attitude and the actual hand washing practices both in school as well as at home among children. Extensive health education programs were conducted to demonstrate correct hand washing technique and importance of hand washing was taught; with involvement of teachers from schools. Data was collected using interview questionnaires. Hand washing facility and availability of water and soap in school was also noted. Teachers were actively involved to motivate students for hand washing with soap before eating and after visiting toilet facility. Follow up visits were done to study parameters like improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene.Results: After our health education sessions there was significant improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices regarding hand washing among the school children.Conclusions: From our study findings it can be stated that after our health education sessions there was significant improvement in hand washing behaviour among the participants. We tried to sensitize teachers also so that they will motivate children in future.