European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HAND WASHING PRACTISES AMONG RURAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS: IMPLICATION TO CHILD HEALTH

Ifezulike C. C. and *Azikiwe C. C. A.

ABSTRACT

Background: Hand washing can be defined as the process of cleansing the whole hands with water and, or soap
for the purpose of removal of dirt, chemical or microbial agents. Community Directed Distributors of Key House
Hold Practices are rural based health care workers who also care for their children. Aim: To assess the profile of
this category of health workers, their knowledge, attitude and practise of hand-washing. Method: A multi stage
sampling technique was used and subjects were community directed distributors of key house hold practices in
Anambra East Local Government Area in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. One hundred and sixty one (161)
questionnaires were distributed, returned and analysed. All data were analysed statistically using SPSS version
16.0 and where possible presented as mean± standard deviation. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and
Chi Square were used to compare data. Test of significance was adjudged with p-value and a value less or equal to
0.05 was taken as significant. Results: There was a female predominance among the community directed
distributors health workers with a mean age of 29.5±6.5 years. Their educational level was predominantly
secondary while a few had no formal education. Hand washing habits among our studied group was very poor.
Their different levels of education had no significant influence on their behaviour. As low as 5% of CDDs washed
their hands either with or without soap after attending a child who had defecated and only 4% of them washed
their hands with soap before feeding their children. These are about the most important aspect of basic hygiene for
everybody talks less of people who are supposed to be better informed. This unhygienic practice may not affect
only the mother/caregiver but, the child and the society at large. Conclusion: Occasions of hand washing was
generally very poor among this class of health-workers. Their poor hygienic behaviour could be a major militating
factor against child’s health and to a larger extent the member of the larger society they lead.

Keywords: Hand washing practices; Community Directed Distributors; Hygiene and Child’s health.