Social Determinants of Health, the Family, and Children’s Personal Hygiene: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Habits of personal hygiene are mostly acquired during childhood, and are, therefore, influenced by one’s family. Poor hygiene habits are a risk factor for preventable disease and social rejection. Social Determinants of Health (SDH) consist of contextual factors, structural mechanisms, and the individual’s socioeconomic position, which, via intermediary determinants, result in inequities of health and well–being. Dysfunctional family situations may, therefore, be generated by an unequal distribution of factors determining SDH. Little attention has been paid to the influence of the family on personal hygiene and the perception of social rejection in children. We designed a study to examine differences in personal hygiene and in the perception of social rejection between children in reception centers and children living in a family setting. A validated questionnaire on children’s personal hygiene habits was completed by 51 children in reception centers and 454 children in normal families. Hygiene habits were more deficient among the children in reception centers than among the other children in all dimensions studied. Deficient hygiene habits were observed in the offspring of families affected by the main features of social inequality, who were more likely to perceive social rejection for this reason and less likely to consider their family as the greatest influence on their personal hygiene practices.

Medical Students and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Attitude and Behaviors

“…Despite the fact that, due to their regular contact with the illness, MS might be considered to be more likely to expose their relatives to SARS-CoV-2 infection, this did not appear to be the case: 58.81% of MS relatives suffered from COVID-19 compared to 57.80% of NMS relatives ( p = 0.736). This lack of discrepancy can perhaps be attributed to the better sanitary regime regarding relatives applied by the MS [ 22 , 23 ]. This in turn can be supported by the fact that MS were more likely to report fearing infecting their elderly relatives than the NMS group, even those who had recovered from COVID-19.…”

The Influence of Physical Activity, Diet, Weight Status and Substance Abuse on Students’ Self-Perceived Health

“…The family conditions in which the adolescent develops are of great importance. In fact, the family is a key factor in the acquisition of healthy habits [5]. Adolescents identify the family's supportive function as the main protective factor [1,6].…”

Effectiveness of Health Education Intervention on Water Sanitation and Hygiene Practice among Adolescent Girls in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria: A Cluster Randomised Control Trial

“…In the urban area there was a high level of acceptance of some of the national initiatives like global hand washing day, better infrastructure/basic amenities with more government investment [4,44]. Household monthly income may be applicable to improvement in WASH, as inadequate or low income is considered the primary cause of poor WASH practice, as social inequality has greater influence on hygiene practice [41,45]. The occupation of the mother had significant effect on the WASH practice of respondents.…”

“…The occupation of the mother had significant effect on the WASH practice of respondents. The occupation of mothers gives more strength to the socialization function of the family and the integration of good WASH practice among children and adolescents, thereby increasing their hygiene activities [45]. Water, sanitation and hygiene among adolescent girls focuses on the development of their skills to influence their hygiene practice positively on themselves, in their homes, and the community at large, to reduce the burden of disease [42,43].…”