Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices in handhygiene of students in biological sciences from Felix Houphouet-Boigny University of Cocody (Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire)
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors, analyze and compare their effects on student hygiene behavior at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University. It is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, initially covering 333 students in the second and third year of Training and Research Unit of Biosciences from University Félix Houphouët-Boigny enrolled during the university year in 2015-2016. A total of 318 out of 333 students Interviewed or 95.49% attending the toilets. The majority of the students questioned, 219 (65.76%), had poor hand hygiene practices. There is a non-significant difference between hand hygiene practice and gender (p = 0.16). A staff of 325 students questioned out of 333 or 97.59% denounced a lack of toilets. 95.49% of them are aware of the handwashing procedure. The toilets are also used by girls and boys. We note an insignificant difference between toilet use and sex (p = 0.76).
The correct practice of handwashing is not practiced by the students of Training and Research Unit of Biosciences; this was confirmed by direct observation. In the area of toilet surveys, lacks of hygiene equipment and inadequate toilets have been reported.
Understanding the challenges of hand hygiene practice in academic may help in the development of hand hygiene promotion strategies for the prevention of infections, especially those that are handled. The promotion of hand hygiene should start with health education.
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Introduction
Poor hygiene is a major concern in many low-income countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa (IFRCS, 2007; CSRS, 2013). This situation leads to the proliferation and spread of several germs responsible for pathologies (Racurt, C. etal., 2006; Adou bryn etal ., 2005; Rasso etal ., 2005; Mouchet etal. , 1987; SOLIDARITE International, 2017). The hand represents the tool most often used by humanbeing and serves him to interact with his environment (Santé Canada, 2010). This environment is colonized by a varied flora. In contact and colonized by these germs, the hand constitutes a potential vector of these. Hence, hand hygiene is an essential element for the public health mission to reduce the transmission and the consequences of pathologies, especially man-made diseases. Optimal hand hygiene behavior will be considered the cornerstone of prevention (Red Cross Côte d'Ivoire, 2014; SOLIDARITE International, 2017; WHO, 2017a). Infectious diseases of parasitic, bacterial or viral origin are often the cause of high absenteeism among students. This often leads to a drop in their academic performance (Eau-vive, 2010; Diallo, 2015). Many of these infectious diseases are handled and their eradication requires hygienic behaviors, including handwashing (Delphine, 20 08; SFHH, 2009). Investment in the water and sanitation sector produces considerable economic benefits. It is estimated that a dollar invested in these services would be a profit of $ 4.3 (WHO, 2017a). Ebola haemorrhagic fever has plagued many countries neighboring Côte d'Ivoire in 2014 (WHO, 2013). The man becomes contaminated when he comes into contact with the excretions of a man, an animal (bat, chimpanzee ...) sick or healthy carrier. As far as contamination between man is concerned, it is a horizontal or human-to-human transmission. In this type of transmission, the disease spreads rapidly in high density populations. The promiscuity of the student population at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University is worrying. In addition, it was found that the illus tration poster of the handwashing procedure does not exist in our toilets. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hygiene practices of students studying animals (domestic and wild) in order to assist in the promotion of hand hygiene.
Conclusion
We note that the students interviewed know the hygienic practices of handwashing. But they can not apply it entirely because they can only wash their hands with water alone because hand soaps and disinfectants do not exist in the toilet. Thus, preventive measures are not practiced by students at Training and Research Unit of Biosciences .
Understanding the challenges of hand hygiene practice in academia may help in the development of hand hygiene promotion strategies for the prevention of infections, especially those that are handled.