Department of Community Medicine, KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India.
Indian J Public Health. 2010 Jul-Sep;54(3):126-30. doi: 10.4103/0019-557X.75734.
Public health importance of hand washing as well as its importance in reduction of communicable diseases such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections have been highlighted in many studies worldwide.
This study was designed to study the hand washing practices followed in two urban slums as well as to assess and compare the status of different components of hand washing at the pre- and post-intervention phases.
A community-based cross-sectional intervention study on hand washing practices was carried out at two urban slums situated in two states of Eastern India with similar sociocultural and linguistic background. The study was carried out by using an interview technique as well as observation of hand washing practices. Interpersonal communication for behavioural change was chosen as a method of intervention.
The majority (>90%) practiced hand washing after defecation in both the study areas. However, hand washing following all six steps and for stipulated time period was seen to be poor before intervention. Significant improvement was observed in all the aspects of hand washing after intervention in both the areas. The poor practice of hand washing was observed in some situations and needed attention. Use of soap and clean material for drying hands after hand washing was poor initially followed by improvement after intervention.
Based on the findings of the study, it could be suggested that Behaviour Change Communication program should be further planned with emphasis on different components of hand washing with a final objective to bring down the incidence of target diseases.
手卫生对公共卫生的重要性，以及其在减少腹泻和急性呼吸道感染等传染病方面的重要性，已在全球许多研究中得到强调。
本研究旨在研究两个城市贫民窟的手卫生实践，并评估和比较干预前后不同手卫生环节的状况。
在印度东部两个州的两个城市贫民窟进行了一项基于社区的横断面干预性手卫生实践研究，这些地区具有相似的社会文化和语言背景。研究采用访谈技术和观察手卫生实践进行。人际沟通行为改变被选为干预措施。
在两个研究区域，大多数（>90%）人在排便后都进行了洗手。然而，在干预前，只有不到一半的人能够完整地按照六个步骤洗手，并达到规定的时间。在干预后，两个地区在手卫生的所有方面都有了显著的改善。在某些情况下，手卫生的实践情况较差，需要引起注意。在干预前，人们在洗手后使用肥皂和清洁材料擦干手的情况较差，在干预后有所改善。
根据研究结果，可以建议进一步制定行为改变沟通计划，重点关注手卫生的不同环节，最终目标是降低目标疾病的发病率。
