Personal hygiene practices and related skin diseases among primary school children of urban poor locality

Abstract

Background: Government of India has launched ‘Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya’ initiative in 2014, with emphasis on promoting safe and hygiene practices among school children. Providing easy access to hygiene and health education regarding personal hygiene is a simple and cost effective tool for prevention and control of hygiene related health problems including skin diseases. Objectives of the study were to assess the personal hygiene practices of primary school children and to find out the skin diseases related to personal hygiene practices.Methods: The study was conducted among 12 primary schools in an urban poor locality. The availability of hygiene facilities in all the schools was noted. The hygiene practices among the children were collected using pre-designed, semi-structured proforma and clinical examination was done to find out skin diseases among them. Subsequently, all school children were given health education regarding correct hygiene practices. The data was analysed using mean, percentages and Chi-square test.Results: The study included 1404 students. Among them 40.7% took bath daily, 53.7% wore washed undergarments, uniform and socks daily, 56.5% had trimmed nails and 76.7% washed hands with soap and water before eating and after using toilet. On examination, 475 (33.8%) had skin diseases like pityriasis alba (13.2%), pediculosis capitis (12.3%), pyoderma (4.6%) and others. There was significant association between skin diseases and hygiene practices (p<0.001).Conclusions: Improper hygiene practices were associated with skin diseases. Therefore, regular social and behavioural change communication activities on hygiene practices has to be imparted for school children to prevent related skin diseases.

Role of Environmental Factors and Hygiene in Skin Diseases

“…A significant majority -161 (92.5 per cent) cases of scabies had poor personal hygiene. Another study (12) also showed that, there was significant association between skin diseases and some of the personal hygiene practices (p<0.01) such as hand washing, daily bathing, wearing clean clothes, trimmed & clean nails, walk without footwear, playing in mud & dirty water and others. Similarly, across sectional study conducted at a community school in the tribal area of Yercaud in Tamil Nadu (13) , including 923 children showed that 64.6% children had dermatologic manifestations and there was highly statistically significant association of skin diseases with poor hygiene (78.4%) such as those who did not bath daily (70.0%) and who did not wear washed clothes daily (69.1%).…”

Personal Hygiene Among School Going Children in Aurangabad City : A Cross Sectional Study

“…School is important for cognitive, creative and social development of children. [8] Children especially in the school going ages are impressionable and inculcation of good habits relating to personal hygiene in young ages can reduce morbidity and mortality in this age group and also influence the individuals health in the long term as they advance to adulthood. This responsibility is shared and falls on the shoulders of the parents and the education system .…”

“…Maintaining good personal hygiene is necessary for physical, mental and social well-being. [8] The school age (6-12 years old) is a dynamic period of growth and development . [9] Education and communication are important components of promoting hygiene and key to promote behavioural change within schools and communities by motivating, informing and educating children about good hygiene practices.…”