| The impact of gender and physical environment on the handwashing behaviour of university students in Ghana. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 22248114 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Objectives To establish levels of handwashing after defecation among students at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, and to test hypotheses that gender and washroom environment affect handwashing behaviour. Methods Data on students' handwashing behaviour after defecation were collected by structured observations in washrooms. Eight hundred and six observations were made (360 female students and 446 males) in 56 washrooms over 496 observation periods. Observers recorded gender, duration of handwashing, use of soap, and physical characteristics of the washroom (cleanliness, availability of soap, tap flow and presence of handwashing posters). Results Fewer than half the students observed washed their hands or bathed after defecation. Of these, only two-thirds washed both hands and a minority (20%) used soap; only 16 students (all men) washed their hands for the recommended 15 s or longer. Female students were more likely to wash their hands at all, and were more likely to wash both hands, than males. Cleanliness of the washroom was strongly associated with improved handwashing behaviour for both women and men, as was tap flow quality for female students. Conclusions Handwashing behaviour is generally poor among UCC students, mirroring results from North American Universities. The findings underline the plasticity of handwashing behaviour among this population, and highlight the need for ensuring that the physical environment in washrooms on university campuses is conducive to handwashing. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Simon Mariwah; Kate Hampshire; Adetayo Kasim |
Related Documents
:
|
21526574 - Comparison of functional fitness in elderlies with reference values by rikli and jones ... 6109694 - The use of minor tranquilizers with jail inmates. 21198224 - Computerized versus motivational interviewing alcohol interventions: impact on discrepa... 21073744 - Interactive seminars or small group tutorials in preclinical medical education: results... 8676204 - Teaching caring to nursing students. 22133484 - Student nurses harassing academics. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-1-16 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH Volume: - ISSN: 1365-3156 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Jan |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2012-1-17 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9610576 Medline TA: Trop Med Int Health Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
|
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
Affiliation:
|
Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana Department of Anthropology, Durham University, UK Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, UK. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Retraction: The absence of MyD88 has no effect on the induction of alternatively activated macrophag...
Next Document: Alcohol-associated risks for young adults with Type?1 diabetes: a narrative review.