Association between Handwashing Behavior and Infectious Diseases among Low-Income Community Children in Urban New Delhi, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

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dc.contributor.authorKhan, Khalid M.
dc.contributor.authorChakraborty, Rishika
dc.contributor.authorBrown, Stephen L.
dc.contributor.authorSultana, Rasheda
dc.contributor.authorColon, Alec
dc.contributor.authorToor, Devinder
dc.contributor.authorUpreti, Pooja
dc.contributor.authorSen, Banalata
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-05T15:18:31Z
dc.date.available2023-05-05T15:18:31Z
dc.date.issued2021-11
dc.descriptionOriginally published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Healthen_US
dc.description.abstractDiarrheal diseases and respiratory infections (RI) are two leading causes of childhood mortality in low and middle-income countries. Effective handwashing at critical time-points may mitigate these diseases. However, there is a lack of published data investigating this association in school-aged children in India. This study is part of a larger prospective handwashing intervention study in a low-income community in New Delhi, India examining the associations between handwashing behavior and diarrhea and RI in schoolchildren. This current study reports the findings of the baseline survey administered to 272 mother–child dyads. Children aged 8–12 years, and their mothers, were recruited from six schools. A baseline questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, handwash behavior, and mother-reported recent diarrhea and RI incidence among the children. Handwashing before and after preparing food, after defecation, and after cleaning dishes significantly reduced the odds of diarrhea by over 70%, and of RI by over 56%. Using a clean cloth after handwashing lowered odds of diarrhea and RI by 72% and 63% respectively. Around 60% of the participants believed that handwashing could prevent diarrhea and RI in their children. There was a low prevalence of handwashing at critical time-points and a poor perception regarding handwashing benefits. To improve handwashing behavior, hygiene promotion programs need to understand what motivates and hinders handwashing in vulnerable populations.en_US
dc.identifier.citationKhan, K.M.; Chakraborty, R.; Brown, S.; Sultana, R.; Colon, A.; Toor, D.; Upreti, P.; Sen, B. Association between Handwashing Behavior and Infectious Diseases among Low-Income Community Children in Urban New Delhi, India: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12535. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph182312535en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/3874
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Healthen_US
dc.subjectdiarrheaen_US
dc.subjecthandwashingen_US
dc.subjectcritical time pointsen_US
dc.subjectrespiratory infectionsen_US
dc.subjectschoolchildrenen_US
dc.titleAssociation between Handwashing Behavior and Infectious Diseases among Low-Income Community Children in Urban New Delhi, India: A Cross-Sectional Studyen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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