The nexus between household water insecurity, mother's handwashing practices, and diarrheal diseases among under-five children.

This study aimed to examine the association between household water insecurity (HWIS), mother's handwashing practices, and childhood diarrhea in the peri-urban and informal settlements of Hosanna town. A community-based cross-sectional study involving 424 mothers was carried out in Hosanna town, and the data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, HWISE Scale, and an observational checklist. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that the prevalence of HWIS and diarrhea among under-five children was 68.6% and 16%, respectively. Only 42.2% of the mothers had good handwashing practices. Good knowledge of handwashing, positive attitudes toward handwashing, household water security (HWS), and the presence of handwashing facilities were significantly associated with good handwashing practices. Children aged 6-11 months, HWIS, uncovered and wide-mouthed water storage containers, unsafe child's stool disposal practices, and hands not washed with soap after defecation, before preparing food, and feeding a child were significantly associated with the occurrence of diarrhea. The prevalence of diarrhea and HWIS was very high. The majority of the mothers had poor handwashing practices. Therefore, findings suggest interventions to improve HWS and mother's handwashing practices, which could reduce the risk of diarrheal diseases.

Surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to assess the surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff. DESIGN: Single-blind study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 66 staff (surgeons and operating room nurses) employed in the surgery department of a university hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using a Staff Information Form prepared in light of the literature to collect the participants' sociodemographic data and the Surgical Hand Washing Procedure Checklist developed according to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). The staff assigned to operating rooms were identified, and then, their surgical handwashing practices were observed by one of the researchers. FINDINGS: Of the participants, 77.3% were dressed suitable to the operating room field, 56.1% appropriately wet both of their hands and forearms, and 72.7% used a sufficient amount of antiseptic solution (3-5 ml) in their palms. More than half of them (51.5%) inappropriately performed the procedure of surgical handwashing (applying an antiseptic solution to hands and arms with circular motions, starting from the fingertips up to 3-5 cm above their elbows for a minute), and 47% incorrectly performed the procedure of rinsing hands and arms while keeping the hands above the elbows under running water and passing arms through the water in one direction during this process. CONCLUSION: In the study, it was determined that none of the team members completed the preparation, application and drying steps of the surgical handwashing procedure. Therefore, it is necessary to make arrangements that will facilitate the handwashing procedures of the personnel. Personnel-related problems, such as the duration of washing and drying methods, are possible to be avoided with periodic in-service training and with posters demonstrating the washing stages, which might lead to behavioural changes.

Postnatal Mental Health, Hand Washing Practices, and Infant Illness in Rural China.

Background: Maternal mental health problems play an important role in infant well-being. Although western countries have extensively studied the associations between maternal mental disorders, hygiene practices and infant health, little is known in developing settings. This study investigates the correlations between postnatal mental health problems, hand washing practices and infant illness in rural western China. Methods: A total of 720 mothers of infants aged 0-6 months from four poor counties in rural western China were included in the survey. Mental health symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Questions about infant illness and hand washing practices followed evaluative surveys from prior studies. Adjusted ordinary least squares regressions were used to examine correlations between postnatal mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) symptoms, hand washing practices, and infant illness outcomes. Results: Maternal depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were significantly associated with reduced hand washing overall and less frequent hand washing after cleaning the infant's bottom. Mental health symptoms were also associated with a higher probability of infants showing two or more illness symptoms and visiting a doctor for illness symptoms. Individual hand washing practices were not significantly associated with infant illness; however, a composite measure of hand washing practices was significantly associated with reduced probability of infant illness. Conclusion: Postnatal mental health problems are prevalent in rural China and significantly associated with infant illness. Policy makers and practitioners should investigate possible interventions to improve maternal and infant well-being.

Acute Diarrhoeal Disease in Children Aged 6 Months to 24 Months: An In-Hospital Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Diarrheal disease comes second among the causes of death in children under 5 years of old. We are well aware that this common disease is preventable and treatable. But the practice of preventive strategies is not as efficient as it should be. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the frequency of acute diarrheal disease in children aged 6 months to 24 months attending the immunization clinic of Lourdes Hospital, Kochi, Kerala. 2. To assess the associated factors and practices involved with acute diarrheal disease in the study group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in children above 6 months attending immunization clinic in Lourdes hospital during the period from 1st October 2017 to 31st March 2019. After receiving their informed consent, a pretested, semistructured, and validated questionnaire was given to the mothers/caregivers to gather data on socio-demographic characteristics and practices. In order to assess the prevalence of diarrhea, details of the diarrheal episode after the 6 months of age were included in the questionnaire. To eliminate repeats, caution was taken not to include previously recorded data on the diarrheal episode. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The proportion of children with diarrhea in the study population was 38.7% which was high compared with other studies in the same age group. Many of the practices associated were found faulty and needing rectification which is a Family Physician's area of expertise. The study concludes that there is a need for identifying novel risk factors for diarrhea and educating the caregivers regarding the prevention of diarrhea. Primary Care Physicians/Family Physicians can play an effective role in educating the caregivers.

Perception and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban community in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Various perceptions and practices have been associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we assessed the perception and practices regarding COVID-19 among residents in selected urban communities of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design using a multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 360 respondents (Mean age: 33.2 ± 10.6 years; 62.5% females) from households in Ibadan. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire from 3rd to 6th June 2020. Those who demonstrated washing of the palm, back of the hand, spaces between the fingers, fingernails, wrist, and thumbs had six points and were categorized to have had a good practice of handwashing. Descriptive statistics were conducted. Bivariate analyses of sociodemographic characteristics and good handwashing practices were conducted using Chi-square test. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the determinants of good handwashing practices. P-values < 0.05 were statistically significant. RESULTS: Going to the hospital (95%) and calling the COVID-19 help number (58.3%) were the frequently reported practices among respondents following the development of COVID-19 symptoms. Also, 89 (26%) knew they could contract COVID-19, while 41 (12%) perceived it as an exaggerated event. The effects most frequently reported by respondents were hunger/low income (48.8%) and academic delay (8.8%). Use of face masks by 64.5% and social distancing (48%) were the most frequently reported practices for prevention. Only 71 (20.8%) demonstrated good handwashing practices. The perception of the likelihood to contract COVID-19 and practices to prevent COVID-19 had a weak correlation of 0.239 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Gaps exist in the practices that prevent COVID-19. There is a need to improve handwashing, use of face masks and other practices that prevent COVID-19. Implications across public health communication and policies were stated.

Reported handwashing practices of Vietnamese people during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors: a 2020 online survey.

COVID-19 pandemic currently affects nearly all countries and regions in the world. Washing hands, together with other preventive measures, to be considered one of the most important measures to prevent the disease. This study aimed to characterize reported handwashing practices of Vietnamese people during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors. Kobo Toolbox platform was used to design the online survey. There were 837 people participating in this survey. All independent variables were described by calculating frequencies and percentages. Univariate linear regression was used with a significant level of 0.05. Multiple linear regression was conducted to provide a theoretical model with collected predictors. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents used soap as the primary choice when washing their hands. Sixty percent of the participants washed their hands at all essential times, however, only 26.3% practiced washing their hands correctly, and only 28.4% washed their hands for at least 20 seconds. Although 92.1% washed hands after contacting with surfaces at public places (e.g., lifts, knob doors), only 66.3% practiced handwashing after removing masks. Females had better reported handwashing practices than male participants (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.15-3.09). Better knowledge of handwashing contributed to improving reported handwashing practice (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.20-1.41). Poorer handwashing practices were likely due, at least in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic information on the internet, social media, newspapers, and television. Although the number of people reported practicing their handwashing was rather high, only a quarter of them had corrected reported handwashing practices. Communication strategy on handwashing should emphasize on the minimum time required for handwashing as well as the six handwashing steps.