Encouraging better hand drying hygiene

Electric hand driers have the potential to improve sanitation when using public toilets; if used properly, electric driers can dry hands more thoroughly than towels, and users do not come into physical contact with potentially contaminated objects. But electric driers are frequently used for just a few seconds--and so the potential advantage is lost. This paper describes the prototyping and evaluation of a system intended to encourage longer hand drying times in public toilets. The challenges are: to develop hygienic interfaces for use in toilet areas; to design simple to use software that is engaging enough to be used several times a day; and to conduct usability and system acceptance tests in an environment in which users are highly sensitive about privacy issues

School toilets: best practice guidance for primary and secondary schools in Wales (Consultation document)

"This booklet sets out best practice guidance for school toilets in primary and secondary schools to help inform that audit process. It is aimed at school Governing Bodies and Head Teachers, although Local Authorities should also have regard to the guidance as an employer of school staff." - Page 1

A novel planning approach for the water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) sector: the use of object-oriented bayesian networks

Conventional approaches to design and plan water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) interventions are not suitable for capturing the increasing complexity of the context in which these services are delivered. Multidimensional tools are needed to unravel the links between access to basic services and the socio-economic drivers of poverty. This paper applies an object-oriented Bayesian network to reflect the main issues that determine access to WaSH services. A national Program in Kenya has been analyzed as initial case study. The main findings suggest that the proposed approach is able to accommodate local conditions and to represent an accurate reflection of the complexities of WaSH issues, incorporating the uncertainty intrinsic to service delivery processes. Results indicate those areas in which policy makers should prioritize efforts and resources. Similarly, the study shows the effects of sector interventions, as well as the foreseen impact of various scenarios related to the national Program.Preprin

Is Menstrual Hygiene and Management an Issue for Adolescent School Girls?

Presents survey findings about Nepali school girls' knowledge and experience of menstrual hygiene and management. Considers implications for reproductive health and efforts to achieve development goals. Calls for steps to enable proper hygiene practices

Healthier breaks

This resource was originally developed and produced by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland as part of the School food: top marks programme. "This healthier breaks guidance is intended to help schools examine and improve the type of food and drinks they offer at break time. It will help schools to look at the practical issues surrounding the provision of healthier breaks." - introduction

Literacy, Gender and Social Agency: Adventures in Empowerment : A Research Report for ActionAid UK

Labor and Human Capital,

PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS ON HAND WASHING PRACTICES IN SELECTED SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN MAMPONG MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

The study sought to investigate the perception of students on hand washing in order to prevent diseases in Senior High Schools in the Mampong Municipal Assembly. The study employed the use of descriptive research design to find out the attitudes of students on hand washing practices. The instrument for the data collection was a questionnaire which has been administered to the students. The results indicated that, there were insufficient resources for hand washing such as soap, towel, sanitizers, hand antiseptics, portable/tap water, detergent, warm water and alcohol-base rub. Also, there was lack of hand washing practices among students such as after/before visiting toilet, eating, touching raw material, touching rubbish and playing games. Again, there was lack of education and advise on hand washing. It was therefore recommended that school management and government agencies in charge of health and education should increase the education on hand washing in senior high boarding schools.   Article visualizations

Hand rub dose needed for a single disinfection varies according to product: A bias in benchmarking using indirect hand hygiene indicator

AbstractBackgroundThe 3ml volume currently used as the hand hygiene (HH) measure has been explored as the pertinent dose for an indirect indicator of HH compliance. A multicenter study was conducted in order to ascertain the required dose using different products.MethodThe average contact duration before drying was measured and compared with references. Effective hand coverage had to include the whole hand and the wrist. Two durations were chosen as points of reference: 30s, as given by guidelines, and the duration validated by the European standard EN 1500. Each product was to be tested, using standardized procedures, by three nosocomial infection prevention teams, for three different doses (3, 2 and 1.5ml).ResultsData from 27 products and 1706 tests were analyzed. Depending on the product, the dose needed to ensure a 30-s contact duration in 75% of tests ranging from 2ml to more than 3ml, and to ensure a contact duration exceeding the EN 1500 times in 75% of tests ranging from 1.5ml to more than 3ml. The aftermath interpretation is the following: if different products are used, the volume utilized does not give an unbiased estimation of the HH compliance. Other compliance evaluation methods remain necessary for efficient benchmarking