Observational Study about Knowledge and Awareness of Personal Hygiene among Patients at a Upazila Health Center in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: The majority of Bangladesh's population has access to clean drinking water in both urban and rural areas, but the quality of that water is harmed by bacterial contamination brought on by unsanitary practices, the presence of unfavorable chemical contamination like arsenic, and seawater intrusion brought on by climate hazards. This study was carried out to determine whether patients at Upazila Health Complex in Savar, Bangladesh, were aware of certain personal hygiene and sanitation issues.

Methods: This observational research was carried out in the Upazila Health Complex in Savar, Bangladesh, from November 20 to November 28, 2023. The purpose of the study was to assess certain personal hygiene habits among adult Savar Upazila Health Complex patients. The research comprised 204 patients in all, ranging in age from 18 to 60 and coming from both urban and rural locations. The sample technique employed was convenience sampling. Utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire, data was obtained.

Results: About 20.58% were age group 18 to 28 years, 26.96% were age group 29 to 40 years of age and 52.45% were from age group 41 to 60 years. Most of the respondents said that they usually used tap water which is substantial amount of 60%. From this study , it was found that, most of the population 50% use sanitary latrine for convenience and low cost to build a sanitary facility. About 77% of them washed hands with soap while another 2% did not washed hands after defecation. In this study majority of the respondents (nearly half) had moderate knowledge about proper hygiene and punctuality. 24.51% possess poor knowledge about sanitation and awareness for better health.

Conclusion: Education on good hygiene, both in urban and rural areas, is essential to lowering the prevalence of infectious illnesses. Improved encompassing seminar and campaign of these problems should be used to be affordable, and it will be very successful initiatives that would significantly reduce the incidence of communicable diseases among patients in rural areas.