Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Hygiene among School Children in Rural Block of Haryana

Poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitary conditions play major roles in the increased burden of communicable diseases within developing countries. In India, the concept of personal hygiene is intermixed with several ritual ideas and traditions. However, it needs to be practiced properly by individuals alone who assume personal responsibility. There should be a motto to guide every one to follow and practice that 'cleanliness is next to godliness', which is taught to a child even from primary school days. Good personal hygiene usually means those measures a person takes to keep his skin and its appendages such as his hair, finger nails and toe nails and his teeth and mouth clean and in good condition This study was undertaken among 269 students of 5th to 12th classes. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of hygiene among rural school children in Chiri block of Haryana and assessed the extent to which proper knowledge of hygiene was associated with personal hygiene characteristics. Approximately 52% of students were found as having adequate knowledge of proper hygiene. Most students reported hand washing before meals (89.0%), but only 36.2% reported using soap. Although 76.7% of students reported that washing hands after defecation was important, only 14.8% reported actually following this practice. Study findings underscore the need for more hand washing and hygiene education in schools; and provide objective evidence that may guide the development of comprehensive health and hygiene intervention programs in rural schools. Successful implementation of these programs is likely to substantially attenuate the transmissible disease burden borne by school children in rural settings.