Hygiene Behavior in Middle School Students in Ankara, Turkey

Authors : Sidika BULDUK, Emre BULDUK

Pages : 701-707

Doi:10.33808/clinexphealthsci.785809

View : 17 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2021-10-26

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: Hygiene is important as the first line of defence to mitigate the spread of pathogens in people’s everyday environments. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hygiene behaviors of Turkish adolescents living in Ankara. Methods: The participants were 822 boys and 834 girls, in total 1656 Turkish adolescents aged between 12–18 years. We conducted a crosssectional study using a sociodemographic form and the Hygiene Behaviour Inventory insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(H123); including the questions about personal hygiene habits. Data from the study were evaluated statistically by the chi-square test. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(version 22.0);. Results: Our results showed that the frequency of washing hands on an average day was significantly higher in girls than boys insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. Besides, handwashing scores were significantly higher in girls after coming home from outside, after touching an animal and before preparing food insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p <0.001);. 56.5% of girls usually and 43.1% of boys occasionally washing their hands after handling raw foods and before handling cooked foods insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.05);. Girls compared to boys tended to wash their hands for 21 seconds or more insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. We also found that 87.1% of boys and 12.9% of girls preferred to wear the same underclothes two days in a row insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. Conclusion: Girl adolescents have been found to show more rigorous behavior about hygiene compared to boys.
Keywords : Hygiene behaviour inventory, Adolescents, Hygiene Practices