RESEARCH PAPER
Limited adherence to personal hygiene of school-aged children and people over 60 as a continuing challenge for health educators
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1
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Opole, Polska
2
Department of Health Promotion, Institute of Basic Sciences,, University of Physical Education in Cracow, Polska
Submission date: 2024-03-06
Final revision date: 2024-05-09
Acceptance date: 2024-05-16
Online publication date: 2024-06-05
Publication date: 2024-06-07
Przegl Epidemiol 2024;78(1):94-106
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ABSTRACT
Background: Hygienic behavior as such belongs to health behavior, acquired at home, at school, at workplace or through the mass-media. Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the perception of personal hygiene among different age groups and the sociodemographic factors related to hygiene behavior. Material and methods: The author’s questionnaire for children and seniors concerning selected hygienic behavior was used. The questionnaire was conducted in two groups: 200 primary school children in age: 8-11 years; 109 girls and 91 boys and 200 older people: young-old (60-74 years) and old-old (75+); 110 women and 90 men. Results: Girls longer than boys take morning hygiene behavior, but statistically boys spend more time on evening washing, cleaning and brushing. Seniors hygienic behavior depend on age: young-old are more likely take a shower every day (51.79%) than seniors in the old-old group (29.86%). The same statistically significant difference was noticed in case of washing hands before a meal. Conclusions: Children care more about personal hygiene than older people. Age, not gender, is a factor determining the frequency of hygiene practices among older people. Young-old care more about personal hygiene than old-old.