Improving Hygiene Behaviors Among Rural School-Aged Children: A Public Health Education Program in Dang District, Gujarat, India
Abstract
In India, over two million children die each year from preventable diseases. Poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and unhygienic environment all contribute to alarming child mortality rates. Millions of lives could be saved with proper hygiene education and sanitation, especially in poor and underserved communities. This poster presents the results of an intervention to educate and encourage hygiene behaviors like washing hands, brushing teeth, cutting nails, and bathing among children. Participants were pediatric patients that presented to the NSU-KPCOM medical clinic camp at the Vanbandhu Arogya Dham community health center in the Ahwa, Dang District of India. Results also highlight the prevalence of the chief complaints of pediatric patients as it relates to hygiene. Results of this research will provide data to improve future hygiene and education projects to this area. Information will be also be shared with the medical staff regarding rates of hygiene-related illnesses among children.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Christi Navarro
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Shermany Library
Start Date
4-5-2019 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2019 5:00 PM
Improving Hygiene Behaviors Among Rural School-Aged Children: A Public Health Education Program in Dang District, Gujarat, India
Alvin Shermany Library
In India, over two million children die each year from preventable diseases. Poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and unhygienic environment all contribute to alarming child mortality rates. Millions of lives could be saved with proper hygiene education and sanitation, especially in poor and underserved communities. This poster presents the results of an intervention to educate and encourage hygiene behaviors like washing hands, brushing teeth, cutting nails, and bathing among children. Participants were pediatric patients that presented to the NSU-KPCOM medical clinic camp at the Vanbandhu Arogya Dham community health center in the Ahwa, Dang District of India. Results also highlight the prevalence of the chief complaints of pediatric patients as it relates to hygiene. Results of this research will provide data to improve future hygiene and education projects to this area. Information will be also be shared with the medical staff regarding rates of hygiene-related illnesses among children.
