The Hygiene Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Lancet Infect Dis. 2011 Apr;11(4):312-21. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(10)70224-3.
Although promotion of safe hygiene is the single most cost-effective means of preventing infectious disease, investment in hygiene is low both in the health and in the water and sanitation sectors. Evidence shows the benefit of improved hygiene, especially for improved handwashing and safe stool disposal. A growing understanding of what drives hygiene behaviour and creative partnerships are providing fresh approaches to change behaviour. However, some important gaps in our knowledge exist. For example, almost no trials of the effectiveness of interventions to improve food hygiene in developing countries are available. We also need to figure out how best to make safe hygiene practices matters of daily routine that are sustained by social norms on a mass scale. Full and active involvement of the health sector in getting safe hygiene to all homes, schools, and institutions will bring major gains to public health.
尽管促进安全卫生是预防传染病最具成本效益的手段，但在卫生和水与环境卫生部门，对卫生的投资都很低。有证据表明，改善卫生条件特别是加强洗手和安全处理粪便，会带来益处。人们对影响卫生行为的因素有了更多的了解，创意性的伙伴关系也为改变行为提供了新方法。但是，我们在知识方面仍存在一些重要的空白。例如，在发展中国家，几乎没有关于改善食品卫生干预措施有效性的试验。我们还需要找出如何最好地将安全卫生实践作为日常生活的一部分，使其在大规模上得到社会规范的支持。让卫生部门充分和积极地参与将安全卫生带给所有家庭、学校和机构，将给公共卫生带来重大收益。
