Systematic review: Hygiene and health: systematic review of handwashing practices worldwide and update of health effects

Abstract

Abstractobjective To estimate the global prevalence of handwashing with soap and derive a pooled estimate of the effect of hygiene on diarrhoeal diseases, based on a systematic search of the literature.methods Studies with data on observed rates of handwashing with soap published between 1990 and August 2013 were identified from a systematic search of PubMed, Embase and ISI Web of Knowledge. A separate search was conducted for studies on the effect of hygiene on diarrhoeal disease that included randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised trials with control group, observational studies using matching techniques and observational studies with a control group where the intervention was well defined. The search used Cochrane Library, Global Health, BIOSIS, PubMed, and Embase databases supplemented with reference lists from previously published systematic reviews to identify studies published between 1970 and August 2013. Results were combined using multilevel modelling for handwashing prevalence and meta-regression for risk estimates.results From the 42 studies reporting handwashing prevalence we estimate that approximately 19% of the world population washes hands with soap after contact with excreta (i.e. use of a sanitation facility or contact with children's excreta). Meta-regression of risk estimates suggests that handwashing reduces the risk of diarrhoeal disease by 40% (risk ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.53-0.68); however, when we included an adjustment for unblinded studies, the effect estimate was reduced to 23% (risk ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.32-1.86).conclusions Our results show that handwashing after contact with excreta is poorly practiced globally, despite the likely positive health benefits.

Cleaner, Happier, Healthier: Sesame Workshop’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Intervention among Low-Income Groups in Bangladesh and India

“…However, there is concern that both adult and child participants provided responses which they perceived the researchers wanted or expected to hear. This courtesy bias has been shown to occur in other hygiene interventions (Freeman et al, 2014). For example, practically all children said they washed their hands with soap after using the latrine, before and after the intervention.…”

Biopshychosocial and Economic Determinants of Personal Hygiene in the Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases in Sragen District, Central Java

“…Family support is one of the factors that influence an individual's behaviors in taking right decisions. The presence of family support might encourage behavioral capacity and willingness (Freeman et al, 2014). High self-efficacy might cause an individual to endure longer in more difficult problems, to throw away ineffective problem solving activities, to be quicker in selecting strategies, to review any mistakes in their work, to prepare themselves toward more challengeing objectives to spend lesser time in being anxious toward the consequences of failure (WSP, 2008).…”

“…Bariers in performing disease-preventing behaviors include: cost, culture and difficulty in providing facilities (sufficient facilities and clean water are not available) (Asamani, 2011;Freeman et al, 2014). The awareness toward barriers that might appear needs anticipation and needs to be calculated within the healthy behaviors of an individual both as prevention and as preliminary handling of the health problems that he or she has.…”

Does effective counseling play an important role in controlling iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women

“…In a recent systematic review, it was observed handwashing with soap in 19 countries, that only 19% of people worldwide wash their hands after potential contact with excreta. [9] Consequence of IDA Among Pregnant Women IDA early in pregnancy may increase the risk of having a premature delivery or a low birth weight baby. [10] When maternal iron stores are depleted, the fetus also cannot accumulate much iron resulting in decrease in fetal iron stores.…”