| Title | Impact of a hygiene curriculum and the installation of simple handwashing and drinking water stations in rural Kenyan primary schools on student hea... |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2012 |
| Authors | Patel, MK, Harris, JR, Juliao, P, Nygren, B, Were, V, Kola, S, Sadumah, I, Faith, SH, Otieno, R, Obure, AF, Hoekstra, RM, Quick, R |
| Pagination | p. 594 - 601; 5 tab.; 2 fig. |
| Date Published | 2012-04-01 |
| Publisher | American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |
| Place Published | Deerfield, Illinois |
| Keywords | hand washing, health impact, kenya |
| Abstract | School-based hygiene and water treatment programs increase student knowledge, improve hygiene, and decrease absenteeism, however health impact studies of these programs are lacking. Baseline information from students in 42 schools in Kenya is collected. Then a curriculum on safe water and hand hygiene is instituted and installed are water stations in half (“intervention schools”). One year later, the intervention in remaining schools is implemented. Through biweekly student household visits and two annual surveys, the effect of the intervention on hygiene practices and reported student illness are compared. Seen is the improvement in proper handwashing techniques after the school program was introduced. Observed is a decrease in the median percentage of students with acute respiratory illness among those exposed to the program; no decrease in acute diarrhea was seen. Students in this school program exhibited sustained improvement in hygiene knowledge and a decreased risk of respiratory infections after the intervention. [authors abstract] |
| Notes | With 27 references on p. 601 |
| Custom 1 | 824 |
