Association of knowledge on environmental hygiene with demographic variables of rural population in the community

Abstract

Background: Environmental hygiene is a major concern in developing countries. The major factors responsible for poor domestic as well as environmental hygiene are poverty and population explosion. Practices of solid waste disposal, water waste disposal and human habitat have been contributing factors for poor environmental hygiene. Objective: To find out the association of knowledge on environmental hygiene with demographic variables of rural population in the community. Methodology: Pre-experimental (pretest posttest one group design) was used to find out the association of knowledge on environmental hygiene with demographic variables of rural population in the community. 150 samples were selected using convenience sampling technique. Results: Chi-square test results revealed that education (Chi-Square = 9.309, P-Value = 0.015), family type (Chi-Square = 4.299, P-Value = 0.011) and nearby water bodies (Chi-Square = 11.750, P-Value = 0.019) were strongly associated with the knowledge on environmental hygiene. Conclusion: Knowledge on environmental hygiene is achieved only by better education and family values in the community.