Knowledge about Hand Hygiene and Related Infectious Disease Awareness among Primary School Children in Germany

Bibliographic Data

ID15716048
AuthorsKristin Klar (University Hospital Münster), Dennis Knaack (University Hospital Münster), Stefanie Kampmeier (0000-0002-5013-159X, University Hospital Münster), Anna Katharina Hein (University of Münster), Dennis Görlich (0000-0002-2574-9419, University of Münster), Siegfried Steltenkamp (Ophardt Hygiene-Technik GmbH + Co. KG, 47661 Issum, Germany), Ulrike Weyland (University of Münster), Karsten Becker (0000-0002-6391-1341, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume9
Issue2
Pages190-190
Publication date2022-02-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children9020190
PMID35204911
OpenAlexW4210664249
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited48

Hand hygiene is a cornerstone of infection prevention. However, few data are available for school children on their knowledge of infectious diseases and their prevention. The aim of the study was to develop and apply a standardized questionnaire for children when visiting primary schools to survey their knowledge about infectious diseases, pathogen transmission and prevention measures. Enrolling thirteen German primary schools, 493 questionnaires for grade three primary school children were included for further analyses, comprising 257 (52.1%) girls and 236 (47.9%) boys with an age range of 8-11 years. Out of 489 children, 91.2% participants indicated that they knew about human-to-human transmissible diseases. Of these, 445 children responded in detail, most frequently mentioning respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, followed by childhood diseases. Addressing putative hygiene awareness-influencing factors, it was worrisome that more than 40.0% of the children avoided visiting the sanitary facilities at school. Most of the children (82.9%) noted that they did not like to use the sanitary facilities at school because of their uncleanliness and the poor hygienic behavior of their classmates. In conclusion, basic infection awareness exists already in primary school age children. Ideas about the origin and prevention of infections are retrievable, however, this knowledge is not always accurate and adequately contextualized. Since the condition of sanitary facilities has a strong influence on usage behavior, the child's perspective should be given more consideration in the design and maintenance of sanitary facilities

Cornerstone · Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Hygiene · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Pathology · Infection Control in Healthcare · Medicine · Pediatric health and respiratory diseases · School Health and Nursing Education · Pediatrics