Amoruso I

Baldo V

Baldovin T

Bertoncello C

Bolzonella U

Buja B

Cocchio S

Gaborin A

Mafrici SF

English

Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università di Padova

BackgroundHand hygiene is an easy and cost-effective type of primary preventionwhich could avoid up to 30% ofgastro-intestinal and 40% ofrespiratory infections.Although hand hygiene is a world-wide-known topic, official indicationsare mostly aimed at an adult target.Nevertheless, schools are major hubsfor the diffusion of infective diseasesand circulation of pathogens.Copyright © 2020 University of Padua – DCTV – Lab. of Hygiene and Applied MicrobiologyAuthors contact: tatjana.baldovin@unipd.it; irene.amoruso@unipd.itHAND WASHING HABITS AMONG PUPILS IN FOUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ITALY:AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN THE pre-COVID ERA.Baldovin T, Mafrici SF, Bolzonella U, Gaborin A, Bertoncello C, Cocchio S, Buja B, Baldo V, Amoruso IMethodsAn observational study wasconducted in four primary schools inNorth-Eastern Italy.We checked IF, HOW and WHEN(before/after playtime and lunchtime)pupils washed their hands.The use of soap, the way they dryhands, the hand hygiene after toiletusage were also evaluated.Pupils were not aware of the study, soto avoid the Hawthorne effect.Results Overall, 622 pupils (6-11 years of age) were observed. The adherence to hand hygiene practice at any time of the school-day varied from 37.4% to 4.9% among schools. Only 44.5% of pupils who washtheir hands use soap. Only 29.0% of pupils use theprovided drying paper. The moment of greatestadherence to hand washingoccurs before lunchtime, when42.5% of pupils wash their hands. Only 33.6% of pupils wash theirhands after using the toilet. Girls practice more the handhygiene (51.5%) than boys. The youngest pupils (6-7 yrs)wash their hands more than theoldest (10-11 yrs) with 27.3% vs.16.7%. However correct handhygiene is more frequent amongolder pupils.ConclusionsThe emerging scenario points outthat hand hygiene is underused andpoorly practiced among primaryschool students.It could be advisable and urgent tocarry out tailored projects aimed athighlighting the extent to which thissimple practice protects against thetransmission of infectious diseasesamong pupils, even in Europeancountries.The importance of practicing handwashing among pupils shouldespecially be stressed during currentCOVID-19 pandemic times.

HAND WASHING HABITS AMONG PUPILS IN FOUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ITALY: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN THE PRE-COVID ERA.

https://www.research.unipd.it/bitstream/11577/3356097/1/2220%20-%20HAND%20WASHING%20HABITS%20poster%20upload%20bckgr.pdf

HAND WASHING HABITS AMONG PUPILS IN FOUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ITALY: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN THE PRE-COVID ERA.

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Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università di Padova