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Homœopathic Links 2023; 36(01): 016-019
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758678
Perspective

Knowledge and Practice of Handwashing by School Students in Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam, India: A Cross Sectional Survey

Pawan Sharma 
1   Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of West Bengal Model Ayush OPD (Homoeopathy), State Homoeopathic Dispensary, Bagdogra Primary Health Centre, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
,
Tanya Aggarwal
2   Asst. Sec. (Tech) Erstwhile Central Council of Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, India
,
Manoj Kalita
3   Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Population Based Cancer Registry, ICMR, Guwahati, Kamrup Metropilitan, Assam India
,
Arvind Kumar
4   Statistician & Formerly attached with Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, New Delhi 110058, India
,
Anupam Mukherjee 
5   State Homoeopathic Dispensary, under Belakoba BPHC, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of West Bengal, India, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India
,
Daulat Kumar Chaubey
6   Metropolitan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Ramchandraour, Sodepur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to understand the level of handwashing knowledge, and handwashing practices as well as to determine the availability of handwashing facilities in the schools.

Materials and Methods A survey was conducted on 17th October 2019 to determine the availability of handwashing facilities along with the level of handwashing knowledge and practices among school students of Borsojai High School situated in Kamrup Metropolitan City, Guwahati, Assam. The study population consisted of randomly selected students of 9th and 10th classes during the academic year 2019 to 2020. The quantitative data were analysed using the IBM-SPSS, version 20.0.

Result Fifty-six school students from classes 9 to 10th of mean age 15.53 years participated in the current study. It is evident that school-aged students have sufficient knowledge of handwashing, and they widely recognise the importance of handwashing (94.6%) to prevent diseases (39.3%) and to remove germs (48.2%).

Conclusion To encourage hand hygiene in school students, parents can also be sensitised through the parents teacher meeting. This will improve the health and reduce the absenteeism from school due to infectious diseases.

Keywords

handwashing - knowledge - practice - school students - disease prevention - Kamrup - Assam


Publication History

Article published online:
31 March 2023

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