Handwashing practices among pregnant women and mothers of under five years children in eight districts of Rwanda: A secondary data analysis from the endline survey of EKN – nutrition program (2016/2017)

Abstract

Handwashing is an important contributor to the factors of different health outcomes including diarrhea and related diseases that could lead to increased child mortality and morbidity in the world. One of the ways to improve handwashing practices is to better understand different factors contributing to handwashing for more effective action. Study aim The main objective of this study was to assess the practices of handwashing in mothers of under five years old children. Methodology This study is a secondary data analysis of the endline survey of the EKN Nutrition program 2016/2017. The survey was cross-sectional and it involved 3664 mothers or care givers of under five children from eight districts being Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru, Karongi, Muhanga, Gatsibo, Gicumbi Kamonyi and Gisagara. Descriptive analysis helped to generate information about the characteristics of the mothers and households. Chi-Square and binary logistic regression were performed to determine socio demographic, economic and environmental factors associated with handwashing practices and the strength of the associations or relations. Results The results from analysis showed that the majority of respondent mothers wash their hands using soap and water before eating (95.2%) and before feeding the child 74.4%). However, some mothers reported to not wash hands after visiting toilet (40.3%) and after attending defecating child (47.1%). The likelihood of mothers for not washing their hands was 5.625 {95% CI (1.205 - 26.249)} times higher in mothers whose household‘ heads are above 60 years old than in mothers whose household heads are below 21 years of age (P≤ 0.05). Conclusion Different illnesses, especially diarrheal related, can be prevented and controlled by appropriate practices of hands hygiene and sanitation including washing the hands effectively with cleansing agent by respecting the critical times. Insufficient hand washing materials are barriers to practice hygiene behaviors. Recommendation