PERCEPTION OF HAND HYGIENE HABIT AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AMONGST THE STUDENTS OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Hand hygiene habits and the knowledge of their health implications were investigated among students of a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey guided by twenty research questions and four research hypotheses was carried out. A total of 400 undergraduates were randomly selected across the five colleges in the University. The highest respondents were of less than 20 years of age (74%), followed by 21-25 years (25%). Two hundred and four (51%) of the respondents claimed that water which is vital to hand hygiene habit is scarce, 124 (31%) wash hands before meal only, 96(24%) wash hands after toileting, however, 368 (92%) had knowledge that good handwashing habit prevents diseases and infestations. Massive campaigns and awareness are subjacent to improve the culture and habit of hand-washing. Hygiene education should be introduced in all academic curricula to guide in the prevention of the rapid spread of epidemics of which hand seems the first contact of disease infestation.