Knowledge, attitude and practice on personal hygiene among students of Maruzi Secondary School, Apac District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/wb6jsk63Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Personal hygiene, Maruzi Seed Secondary SchoolAbstract
Background:
Personal hygiene is crucial for preventing disease and promoting health among school-going adolescents. However, hygiene-related illnesses remain prevalent in many Ugandan schools. This study assessed the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of personal hygiene among students at Maruzi Seed Secondary School in Apac district.
Methodology:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 136 Senior One students, selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and presented using descriptive statistics.
Findings:
The study revealed that while a majority of students demonstrated good foundational knowledge of hygiene, critical gaps existed in specific areas such as menstrual health and worm infestation. Attitudes were mixed; students felt personally responsible for their hygiene, yet this was undermined by significant gender-based misconceptions and the belief that a lack of facilities justified poor practices. A clear theory-practice gap was observed: knowledge often failed to translate into consistent action, particularly in the use of soap for handwashing and twice-daily toothbrushing. Inadequate access to hygiene materials was a key barrier.
Conclusion:
Students possess basic hygiene knowledge, but this is insufficient to drive optimal practices due to attitudinal barriers and resource constraints. The study concludes that improving hygiene requires a coordinated approach that addresses knowledge gaps, transforms harmful attitudes, and improves access to essential hygiene resources.
Recommendations:
Targeted health education, reliable provision of soap and sanitary products, and school-wide campaigns to address misconceptions are recommended to bridge the identified gaps. School nurses should move beyond assessing illness to routinely conducting KAP assessments on hygiene to identify local gaps.
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