| dc.description.abstract | Poor hand washing make hands a major path way through which fecal-oral diseases are transmitted. About 80% of the world s communicable diseases are transmitted by a mere touch of unhygienic hands. A disproportionate burden of child mortality is in Low and Middle Income Countries where more than 30% of all diarrheal deaths occur. One in four Ugandans washes hands properly- with soap and water- after using a latrine/ toilet, explaining why about 75% of the country s disease burden is preventable and linked to poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation facilities and practices. The government of Uganda recommends hand washing as the best way to control nosocomial infections among children. However the compliance to hand washing among people is very low because only 28% of the population has access to hand washing facilities, meaning most Ugandans are susceptible to diarrheal diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on hand washing at critical times among mothers/care givers of under five children in pediatrics ward Mulago hospital.
METHODOLOGY: This was a cross sectional study, employing quantitative data collection methods including a structured non self-administered questionnaire designed in epi collect software. A sample size of 113 mothers/caretakers took part in the study. Data was then exported to STATA for univariate analysis to come up with results from the collected data.
RESULTS: A total of 113 mothers/care takers participated in the study. There were more females 101(89.38%) than males 12 (10.62%) with majority 60 (53.10%) belonging to age group of 30-35 years, with mean age 31.39 (± 6.68 SD). Many of them 58 (51.33%) belonged to primary level of education. High proportion of respondents 91 (80.53%) had adequate knowledge on hand washing with most of them 110 (97.55%) knew that hand washing is important and reduces chances of spreading infections. The overall positive attitude towards hand washing was 80 (70.80%) with 99(87.61%) claiming that hand washing is not regularly talked about at the ward. The majority 84(74.34%) never felt comfortable reminding their neighbors about hand washing and the reasons were; they mind their own businesses, it s never their job and fear to be abused .More than half of respondents never mentioned at least three diseases resulting from poor hand washing practices. CONCLUSION: Despite the good knowledge, attitudes and practices on hand washing, health workers should continue sensitizing the mothers/caregivers about good hand washing practices and also improving on the hand washing facilities to further promote hand washing at wards.
KEY WORDS: Hand washing, practices, knowledge, attitude, mothers/caregivers, children under five years of age | en_US |
