Original Research Article

Examination of Knowledge and Perception of Personal and Environmental Hygiene in the Transmission of Communicable Diseases among Rural Dwellers in Oyo State, Nigeria

Oluwaseun R. Omole¹, Patricia I. Ejikem², Irene U. Okeke³, Perpetua O. Nnemelu⁴, Olufunmi A. I. Otuka⁵, Isaiah O. Abali⁵, Ngozichukwu C. Ekeleme², Debra U. Okeh⁶, Augustine I. Airaodion^7*

¹Department of Community Health Nursing, West African College of Nursing and Midwifery, Lagos State, Nigeria
²Department of Community Medicine, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria
³Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
⁴Department of Microbiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
⁵Department of Surgery, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
⁶Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
⁷Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: augustineairaodion@yahoo.com

Received: 27 March 2023  I  Accepted: 25 April 2023  I  Published: 30 April 2023  I  Article ID: MRJMMS23016
Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the personal and environmental hygiene practices, as well as the knowledge and perception of communicable diseases among respondents. A total of 300 questionnaires were administered and retrieved for analysis. The results showed that the majority (44.33%) of the respondents were between the ages of 30-39 years, (73.33%) were married, (52.33%) had senior secondary school education, and were students or self-employed. Regarding personal hygiene practices, the majority (57.33%) of the respondents washed their hands with soap and water often, (70.67%) did not use hand sanitizer, and (93.00%) brushed their teeth once per day. In terms of environmental hygiene, most (62.66%) of the respondents cleaned their houses often, (99.00%) did not disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly, (74.00%) did not separate and dispose of their wastes properly, and (54.67%) changed their beddings every two weeks. The majority (94.33%) of the respondents were vaccinated against communicable diseases, (91.00%) had heard of communicable diseases, and (92.67%) knew that personal and environmental hygiene play a role in preventing their spread. However, only a third (33.00%) of the respondents knew how to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases, and most(78.00%) did not know the symptoms of common communicable diseases. Overall, the study revealed gaps in personal and environmental hygiene practices and knowledge of communicable diseases among the respondents. This study highlights the need for educational programs on personal and environmental hygiene to promote better practices and prevent the transmission of communicable diseases.

Keywords: Communicable Diseases, Environmental Hygiene, Knowledge and Perception, Personal Hygiene