A SURVEY ON HAND HYGIENE PRACTICES LEARNT FROM COVID19 PANDEMIC BY URBAN POPULATION IN WEST INDIA

Abstract

Introduction- Hand washing with soap (HWWS) was suggested as effective measure for preventing SARS Cov -2 transmission and apart from COVID infection in has benet in prevention of gastrointestinal infection, soil borne parasitic infection and other respiratory infection therefore this hand hygiene practice if adopted as a life style change could prevent other infections. Study design- The present study is a questionnaire based one to access the compliance of general public if they could sustain hand hygiene practices in post pandemic period for better prevention of possible outbreaks in near future. Results– The total of 319 respondents participated in the study with 141(44.20%) males and 178 (55.8%) females. The frequency of hand washing in COVID19 pandemic was more than ten times a day as reported by 176(55.2%) of respondents followed by ve to ten times per day by 107(33.5%) and less than ve times a day by 36(11.3%) of respondents. The post pandemic hand washing frequency showed a decrease as 36(11.3%) respondents reported hand washing frequency of more than ten times a day, 29(9.1%) reporting ve to ten times a day and 254(79.60%) respondents with less than ve times a day. 204(63.9%) of respondents did not intend to follow hand hygiene practices after COVID19 pandemic phase is over in comparison to 115(36.10%) who wish to follow in post pandemic era.315 (98.80%) did wash hands after going for toilet, 142 (44.5%) before preparing food, 314(98.4%) before eating food, 82(25.70%) on arrival at home, 81(25.43%) after work , 95(29.80%) before touching face and 273(85.6%) after sneezing and coughing. However the sex wise difference was not statistically signicant. The frequencies of hand washing in pandemic and post pandemic time which shows decline in adoption of hand washing frequencies and the result was statistically signicant, p value <.05. Conclusion- Hand hygiene should be emphasized, nurtured by frequent awareness programs and education so that our population adopts safe hygiene practices as hand hygiene is by far most effective way in curtailing spread of communicable and infectious disease making our masses prepared for future outbreaks.