Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme

Isaac Monney; Oparebea Sussana Martinson; Abugbilla Matthew Asampana; Marfo Albert

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme

Isaac Monney, Oparebea Sussana Martinson, Abugbilla Matthew Asampana, Marfo Albert

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 21 November 2013 Accepted: Published: 20 December 2013

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Abstract

School Feeding Programmes have been shown to impact positively on nutritional status and cognition of school children as well as hunger and poverty alleviation. There is however, dearth of information regarding hand hygiene in schools benefiting from these programmes. This study assesses hand hygiene practices, barriers and compliance to proper hand hygiene in schools benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and extensive field observation respectively. Fifty three (53) GSFP beneficiary schools were selected from four different locations in Ghana; Winneba (6), Mpraeso (10), Mampong-Ashanti (17) and Bolgatanga (20). Findings from the study indicate availability of hand washing facilities (HWFs) in most schools (79%; n = 53); high pupil-to-HWF ratio resulting in poor hand washing practices (Range: 15-372; average: 105); availability of soap for handwashing (83%; n = 42) but extensive use of shared containers (53%; n = 42); delays in acquisition of HWFs, fragmented private sector efforts in hand hygiene promotion and non-compliance with conventional hand washing practices. The study observes that the incorporation of schools into the GSFP without concurrently instituting a comprehensive hand washing programme is rather a retrogressive step considering the possible health repercussions on pupils. To avert this, it is proposed that hand washing with soap should be a mandatory practice in schools benefiting from the GSFP. This requires institution of a sustainable, impact-driven school hand hygiene programme involving both public and private sector agencies to be instituted along with the GSFP.

Published in	Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
Page(s)	7-14
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hand Hygiene, Soap, Ghana School Feeding Programme, Hand Washing Facility

References

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APA Style

Isaac Monney, Oparebea Sussana Martinson, Abugbilla Matthew Asampana, Marfo Albert. (2013). Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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ACS Style

Isaac Monney; Oparebea Sussana Martinson; Abugbilla Matthew Asampana; Marfo Albert. Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 2(1), 7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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AMA Style

Isaac Monney, Oparebea Sussana Martinson, Abugbilla Matthew Asampana, Marfo Albert. Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Sci J Public Health. 2013;2(1):7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12,
  author = {Isaac Monney and Oparebea Sussana Martinson and Abugbilla Matthew Asampana and Marfo Albert},
  title = {Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {7-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140201.12},
  abstract = {School Feeding Programmes have been shown to impact positively on nutritional status and cognition of school children as well as hunger and poverty alleviation. There is however, dearth of information regarding hand hygiene in schools benefiting from these programmes. This study assesses hand hygiene practices, barriers and compliance to proper hand hygiene in schools benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and extensive field observation respectively. Fifty three (53) GSFP beneficiary schools were selected from four different locations in Ghana; Winneba (6), Mpraeso (10), Mampong-Ashanti (17) and Bolgatanga (20). Findings from the study indicate availability of hand washing facilities (HWFs) in most schools (79%; n = 53); high pupil-to-HWF ratio resulting in poor hand washing practices (Range: 15-372; average: 105); availability of soap for handwashing (83%; n = 42) but extensive use of shared containers (53%; n = 42); delays in acquisition of HWFs, fragmented private sector efforts in hand hygiene promotion and non-compliance with conventional hand washing practices. The study observes that the incorporation of schools into the GSFP without concurrently instituting a comprehensive hand washing programme is rather a retrogressive step considering the possible health repercussions on pupils. To avert this, it is proposed that hand washing with soap should be a mandatory practice in schools benefiting from the GSFP. This requires institution of a sustainable, impact-driven school hand hygiene programme involving both public and private sector agencies to be instituted along with the GSFP.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme
AU  - Isaac Monney
AU  - Oparebea Sussana Martinson
AU  - Abugbilla Matthew Asampana
AU  - Marfo Albert
Y1  - 2013/12/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 7
EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
AB  - School Feeding Programmes have been shown to impact positively on nutritional status and cognition of school children as well as hunger and poverty alleviation. There is however, dearth of information regarding hand hygiene in schools benefiting from these programmes. This study assesses hand hygiene practices, barriers and compliance to proper hand hygiene in schools benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and extensive field observation respectively. Fifty three (53) GSFP beneficiary schools were selected from four different locations in Ghana; Winneba (6), Mpraeso (10), Mampong-Ashanti (17) and Bolgatanga (20). Findings from the study indicate availability of hand washing facilities (HWFs) in most schools (79%; n = 53); high pupil-to-HWF ratio resulting in poor hand washing practices (Range: 15-372; average: 105); availability of soap for handwashing (83%; n = 42) but extensive use of shared containers (53%; n = 42); delays in acquisition of HWFs, fragmented private sector efforts in hand hygiene promotion and non-compliance with conventional hand washing practices. The study observes that the incorporation of schools into the GSFP without concurrently instituting a comprehensive hand washing programme is rather a retrogressive step considering the possible health repercussions on pupils. To avert this, it is proposed that hand washing with soap should be a mandatory practice in schools benefiting from the GSFP. This requires institution of a sustainable, impact-driven school hand hygiene programme involving both public and private sector agencies to be instituted along with the GSFP.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Isaac Monney

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong Ashanti, Ghana
Oparebea Sussana Martinson

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong Ashanti, Ghana
Abugbilla Matthew Asampana

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong Ashanti, Ghana
Marfo Albert

Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box M40, Mampong Ashanti, Ghana

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Isaac Monney, Oparebea Sussana Martinson, Abugbilla Matthew Asampana, Marfo Albert. (2013). Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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ACS Style

Isaac Monney; Oparebea Sussana Martinson; Abugbilla Matthew Asampana; Marfo Albert. Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 2(1), 7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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AMA Style

Isaac Monney, Oparebea Sussana Martinson, Abugbilla Matthew Asampana, Marfo Albert. Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Sci J Public Health. 2013;2(1):7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12

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@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12,
  author = {Isaac Monney and Oparebea Sussana Martinson and Abugbilla Matthew Asampana and Marfo Albert},
  title = {Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {7-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140201.12},
  abstract = {School Feeding Programmes have been shown to impact positively on nutritional status and cognition of school children as well as hunger and poverty alleviation. There is however, dearth of information regarding hand hygiene in schools benefiting from these programmes. This study assesses hand hygiene practices, barriers and compliance to proper hand hygiene in schools benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and extensive field observation respectively. Fifty three (53) GSFP beneficiary schools were selected from four different locations in Ghana; Winneba (6), Mpraeso (10), Mampong-Ashanti (17) and Bolgatanga (20). Findings from the study indicate availability of hand washing facilities (HWFs) in most schools (79%; n = 53); high pupil-to-HWF ratio resulting in poor hand washing practices (Range: 15-372; average: 105); availability of soap for handwashing (83%; n = 42) but extensive use of shared containers (53%; n = 42); delays in acquisition of HWFs, fragmented private sector efforts in hand hygiene promotion and non-compliance with conventional hand washing practices. The study observes that the incorporation of schools into the GSFP without concurrently instituting a comprehensive hand washing programme is rather a retrogressive step considering the possible health repercussions on pupils. To avert this, it is proposed that hand washing with soap should be a mandatory practice in schools benefiting from the GSFP. This requires institution of a sustainable, impact-driven school hand hygiene programme involving both public and private sector agencies to be instituted along with the GSFP.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessing Hand Hygiene Practices in Schools Benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme
AU  - Isaac Monney
AU  - Oparebea Sussana Martinson
AU  - Abugbilla Matthew Asampana
AU  - Marfo Albert
Y1  - 2013/12/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 7
EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.12
AB  - School Feeding Programmes have been shown to impact positively on nutritional status and cognition of school children as well as hunger and poverty alleviation. There is however, dearth of information regarding hand hygiene in schools benefiting from these programmes. This study assesses hand hygiene practices, barriers and compliance to proper hand hygiene in schools benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and extensive field observation respectively. Fifty three (53) GSFP beneficiary schools were selected from four different locations in Ghana; Winneba (6), Mpraeso (10), Mampong-Ashanti (17) and Bolgatanga (20). Findings from the study indicate availability of hand washing facilities (HWFs) in most schools (79%; n = 53); high pupil-to-HWF ratio resulting in poor hand washing practices (Range: 15-372; average: 105); availability of soap for handwashing (83%; n = 42) but extensive use of shared containers (53%; n = 42); delays in acquisition of HWFs, fragmented private sector efforts in hand hygiene promotion and non-compliance with conventional hand washing practices. The study observes that the incorporation of schools into the GSFP without concurrently instituting a comprehensive hand washing programme is rather a retrogressive step considering the possible health repercussions on pupils. To avert this, it is proposed that hand washing with soap should be a mandatory practice in schools benefiting from the GSFP. This requires institution of a sustainable, impact-driven school hand hygiene programme involving both public and private sector agencies to be instituted along with the GSFP.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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