A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH ON CLEANLINESS AWARENESS OF SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN BETTER STATE OF PERSONAL HYGIENE

Objective: In this research, we aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge about personal hygiene in the school going, children.

Material and methods: We carried out a cross-sectional research on one hundred school going children who were studies from February 2017 to November 2017 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. Our objective was the assessment of knowledge and awareness about the personal hygiene in children who were attending schools. Numerous considerable factors were included in the research such as hygiene, cleaning material, bathing, brushing, nails cutting, nails cleaning and washing of uniform. We did not include the secondary school students in this research. Students were enrolled on the basis of parent’s permission, diversity and feasibility. Students were assessed with similar performance criteria and numbers with the interview method and questionnaire as an investigative tool. Outcomes were analyzed on SPSS software.

Results: Personal hygiene awareness was found in 91% of the students. The perianal area was cleaned by water by 98% of the students, daily bathing was observed by 51% students, daily washing of uniform was observed in 18% students and once in a day toothbrush was sued by 90% of the students. Nine percent of students were not aware of the concept of personal hygiene. Paper and other materials were used by two percent of students to clean the perianal area. After two days and weekly bath was taken by 41% and 8% of students. Twice and thrice teeth brushing in a day was reported in 6% and 4% respectively. Nail cutting was carried out at an interval of seven, fifteen and thirty days by 55%, 15% and 30% respectively. Twice a week and on weekly basis uniformed were washed by 35% & 47% students respectively.

Conclusion: Number of students was not having pre-text and understanding of the personal hygiene concept and they were also not in a habit of hygienically safe and sound.

Keywords: Awareness, Knowledge, Primary School, Personal Hygiene and Students.