Hygiene Behavior and Its Influencing Factors among Primary School Children in Delanta District, North East Ethiopia

Background: Poor hygiene behaviours create a serious public health threat to school children. One of the major problems faced by school children are infections. The primary causes of infections are associated with poor water supply, poor sanitation and poor hygiene behaviors which can lead to decreased academic performance and increased likelihood of dropout; this, in turn, prevents children from attaining the numerous economic and health benefits associated with educational attainment. Thus, the study aims to assess hygiene behaviors and influencing factors among primary school children in Delanta District, North East Ethiopia, 2020.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 primary school students of Delanta District, from February 1to29, 2020. The participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics using frequency, proportion, summary measures were done. Binary and multivariate logistic regressions were also done to identify independent variables associated with hygiene behaviors among primary school children. P value less than 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval non-inclusive of one was considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 407 respondents were included with a response rate of 100%. The prevalence of positive hygiene behavior was 59.7 %( 95% CI 54.6%, 64.1%). Out of the total respondents 205 (50.4%) had knowledge on water handling practices whereas 236 (58%) of the respondents had knowledge on latrine utilization but 258 (63.4%) of respondents did not know the proper hand washing practices. In the multivariable logistic regressions analysis, taking training on hygiene and sanitation (AOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.3, 3.6), having awareness on hand washing practices (AOR: 1.92, 95% CI (5.5, 15.7) and having knowledgeable on latrine utilization (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI 1.02, 2.67) demonstrated a statistically significant association with the hygiene behavior. Conclusion: The overall findings revealed that the students had adequate knowledge on water handling and latrine utilization but poor knowledge on hand washing practices and a greater number of school children did not aware on water handling and hand washing practices. Therefore, focused strategies should be designed on promoting knowledge of school children on toilet use and hand washing practices.