Abstract
Background: Children acquire SARS CoV-2 infection from their family members but they experience mild symptoms. Hand washing promotion programs are being executed in many countries to enhance child healthcare development.
Objective: This study was designed to identify behavioural determinants to increase hand washing practices among primary school children during COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted by the Department of Pediatrics, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore from June to November 2020. Total of 195 mothers of primary school children were enrolled by non-probability consecutive sampling. A 23-item, 5 points likert scale questionnaire assessed 5 domains related to hand- hygiene. Data was entered in SPSS 24. Domains were presented as frequency tables. Independent sample t-test was applied to mean score of sub-category of each domain, and to cumulative mean score of each domain. A cut off mean score‘ of ñ3 was taken as satisfactory.
Results: We found satisfactory mean scores amongst mothers for knowledge regarding the importance of hand-washing (3.59J0.62), and commitment regarding maintenance of hand-hygiene (3.44ñ0.773). Better mean score for liking hand washing with alcohol rub/sanitizer than with soap and water (3.14ñ1.063 versus 1.10ñ1.229) was seen. Children reported not feeling dirty if they did not practice hand-hygiene (2.99ñ1.195). Elders in the households promoted hand-washing, but lacked practicing it themselves (3.48+0.881 versus 2.85a 1.242). There was below satisfactory mean score for hand-hygiene amongst children after sneezing, coughing, blowing their nose, or playing (2.50a 1.253, 2.23ñ1.265, 2.27ñ1.301, 2.83ñ1.280 respectively). Norm and self-efficacy factors had adequate overall scores (3.17ñ0.84, 3.17+0.65). The total score for this study was 2.8759ñ0.419.
Conclusion: We found satisfactory mean scores for risk, attitudes, norms, ability, and self-regulation factors of hand- hygiene among primary school children.
Corresponding Authors | 1. Dr. Mydah Tariq Rana, Senior Registrar, Department of Paediatric Medicine, Mayo Hospital, Lahore Email: mydah.tariq@live.com, 2. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Faheem Afzal, Professor, Pediatrics, Ameer-ud-Din Medical College/PGMI/Lahore General Hospital Lahore Email: mfaheem169@yahoo.com
