I forward, herewith, for your information and necessary action, a report on the above mentioned subject.
While hand washing with soap (HWWS) has been identified as a major pathway to reducing the risk of diarrhea diseases, and respiratory infections, rates of HWWS remain low across the globe.
OBSERVATION
The current study, a national survey of Ghanaian mothers, found that as few as 4% of mothers engaged in HWWS after defecation, and only 2% after cleaning a child's bottom. In a multivariate analysis, we explored the determinants of hand washing at these key junctures, with and without soap. After defecation, mother's education, knowledge of important times to hand wash with soap, the age of her children, and a measure of the quality of child care were all associated with hand washing (in any form). However, only the latter two variables also predicted soap use amongst hand washers. After cleaning a child's bottom, education, knowledge of important times to hand wash with soap, and child care quality were associated with hand washing (in any form), yet only one variable, a measure of disgust sensitivity, showed any possible relationship with soap use. While this study has several important limitations, failure to explain much of the observed variance, despite a large range of potential determinants explored, suggests that we need to continue complementing quantitative surveys with in-depth qualitative studies if we are to better understand the motivations for, and constraints to, HWWS in community settings.
REDUCING DIARRHEA DISEASES
Diarrhea causes over two million deaths a year. Handwashing with soap and water can reduce diarrhea diseases by up to 48%.
A schoolgirl from the Abokobi district, a poor-farming community in Ga East whose families lives off in a single room, draw her water from wells and live in mud houses that lack basic sanitation.
This girl and her friends are only too aware of the misery diarrhea diseases can cause. In Ghana a child succumbs to diarrhea every 30 seconds. Yet a World Bank study estimates that handwashing with soap and water can reduce diarrhea diseases by up to 48%, preventing over one and a half million children from dying each year.
HEALTH EDUCATION
A nine member committee was set to teach the school children and the community about germs and encourage the school to put on a show for parents and the community, acting out sketches on the importance of handwashing with soap. Mothers of young children were invited to join the handwashing education campaign, and school children, parents and the committee were recruited as volunteers to demonstrate and organize community events.
CONLUSION
We realized that we need to wash the two hands thoroughly with water and then with soap. Madam Sadiq Mahama demonstrated hand wash with soap and gave a piece of advice saying “Raping your hand with rug is very dangerous especially in Chop bars where after eating you clean the mouth with napkins .
A male student said and I quote “I didn’t know soap could save lives. I didn't even know about germs”. He then made an appeal and I quote “we want to wash our hands with soap please make the facilities available”. We promise to wash our hands with soap always and we will educates our friends and tell everyone about hidden germs and how soap can help us stay well by washing critically inside our nails.
The school feeding program started in Abokobi district on the 20th March, 2008.
AMOASI ROCKSON JAFTER
DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER
While hand washing with soap (HWWS) has been identified as a major pathway to reducing the risk of diarrhea diseases, and respiratory infections, rates of HWWS remain low across the globe.
OBSERVATION
The current study, a national survey of Ghanaian mothers, found that as few as 4% of mothers engaged in HWWS after defecation, and only 2% after cleaning a child's bottom. In a multivariate analysis, we explored the determinants of hand washing at these key junctures, with and without soap. After defecation, mother's education, knowledge of important times to hand wash with soap, the age of her children, and a measure of the quality of child care were all associated with hand washing (in any form). However, only the latter two variables also predicted soap use amongst hand washers. After cleaning a child's bottom, education, knowledge of important times to hand wash with soap, and child care quality were associated with hand washing (in any form), yet only one variable, a measure of disgust sensitivity, showed any possible relationship with soap use. While this study has several important limitations, failure to explain much of the observed variance, despite a large range of potential determinants explored, suggests that we need to continue complementing quantitative surveys with in-depth qualitative studies if we are to better understand the motivations for, and constraints to, HWWS in community settings.
REDUCING DIARRHEA DISEASES
Diarrhea causes over two million deaths a year. Handwashing with soap and water can reduce diarrhea diseases by up to 48%.
A schoolgirl from the Abokobi district, a poor-farming community in Ga East whose families lives off in a single room, draw her water from wells and live in mud houses that lack basic sanitation.
This girl and her friends are only too aware of the misery diarrhea diseases can cause. In Ghana a child succumbs to diarrhea every 30 seconds. Yet a World Bank study estimates that handwashing with soap and water can reduce diarrhea diseases by up to 48%, preventing over one and a half million children from dying each year.
HEALTH EDUCATION
A nine member committee was set to teach the school children and the community about germs and encourage the school to put on a show for parents and the community, acting out sketches on the importance of handwashing with soap. Mothers of young children were invited to join the handwashing education campaign, and school children, parents and the committee were recruited as volunteers to demonstrate and organize community events.
CONLUSION
We realized that we need to wash the two hands thoroughly with water and then with soap. Madam Sadiq Mahama demonstrated hand wash with soap and gave a piece of advice saying “Raping your hand with rug is very dangerous especially in Chop bars where after eating you clean the mouth with napkins .
A male student said and I quote “I didn’t know soap could save lives. I didn't even know about germs”. He then made an appeal and I quote “we want to wash our hands with soap please make the facilities available”. We promise to wash our hands with soap always and we will educates our friends and tell everyone about hidden germs and how soap can help us stay well by washing critically inside our nails.
The school feeding program started in Abokobi district on the 20th March, 2008.
AMOASI ROCKSON JAFTER
DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER
No comments:
Post a Comment