Hand Washing Practice Before Covid-19 Pandemic and Associated Factors Among Primary School Children at Hawassa City Sidama Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectivesthe aim of this study was to assess hand washing practice before covid-19 pandemic and associated factors among primary school children, Hawassa City, Sidama, Ethiopia MethodAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at primary schools children in Hawassa city, Sidama Ethiopia from February to October 2019. A total of 739 students were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Information about socio demography and associated factors was collected by structured questionnaire.ResultIn this study, about 399 (54%) of the students wash their hands at critical times. Availability of hand washing material, availability soap/ash, availability water and pear influence (AOR =1.75, 95% CI=1.22, 2.23), (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI =2.02, 5.15), (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI=1.07, 2.89),(AOR=0.32 95% CI=0.101,0.98) had higher odds of washing practice respectively.ConclusionThe magnitude of hand washing practice was low in this study before covid -19 pandemic. In this regard, Poor access to hand washing facilities need to strengthen as intervention efforts. Further, health education promotion for hand washing practice could be done in school by Hawassa city administration Education office and better facilities need to avail by the stakeholders.