Limited adherence to personal hygiene of school-aged children and people over 60 as a continuing challenge for health educators. / Ograniczone praktykowanie higieny osobistej dzieci w wieku szkolnym i osób powyzej 60. roku zycia jako ciagle wyzwanie dla edukatorów zdrowotnych.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hygienic behavior as such belongs to health behavior, acquired at home, at school, at workplace or through the mass-media. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the perception of personal hygiene among different age groups and the sociodemographic factors related to hygiene behavior. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The author's questionnaire for children and seniors concerning selected hygienic behavior was used. The questionnaire was conducted in two groups 200 primary school children in age 8-11 years; 109 girls and 91 boys and 200 older people young-old (60-74 years) and old-old (75+); 110 women and 90 men. RESULTS: Girls longer than boys take morning hygiene behavior, but statistically boys spend more time on evening washing, cleaning and brushing. Seniors hygienic behavior depend on age young-old are more likely take a shower every day (51.79%) than seniors in the old-old group (29.86%). The same statistically significant difference was noticed in case of washing hands before a meal. CONCLUSIONS: Children care more about personal hygiene than older people. Age, not gender, is a factor determining the frequency of hygiene practices among older people. Young-old care more about personal hygiene than old-old.