PERSONAL HYGENIC PRACTICES AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN RURAL VARANASI

Jaya Krishna1* PhD and CP Mishra2 MD, PhD

ABSTRACT

Healthy hygienic practice of adolescent girls is primary concern for overall development of women. Hygiene is complementary for health promotion that required to maintain wellness. Poor hygiene leads to various illnesses and it can be improved by promoting hygienic behavior. A good hand washing protects against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as Meningitis, Flu, Hepatitis- A, and Diarrhoea. Hand washing with soap is the single most cost-effective health intervention. Hand washing is also less expensive than immunization. The objective of this study was to assess personal hygiene and hand washing practices among adolescent girls. A community based cross-sectional design was adopted for this study. Four hundred adolescent girls were selected from rural Varanasi by adopting appropriate sampling technique. Socio demographic and hygiene related information were obtained from a predesigned and pretested schedule. The data thus obtained was analyzed using SPSSv 21.0 version. Majority (86.5%) of study subjects used foot were during defecation. Soap and water were used by 18.3% subjects for hand washing before eating. Only 11.0% subjects use separate towel. Nails of 56.2% subjects were unclean. History of passage of worms in previous year was present in 52.0% girls while 89.0% subject reported history of passage of worms ever in life. It can be concluded that adolescent girls have inappropriate practices about personal hygiene, hand wash and washing of clothes Therefore there is need for educational program for adolescent girls at school and family level.

Keywords: Adolescent girls, Personal hygiene, Rural area.