Abstract

Objectives: This study was performed to find the relationship among handwashing knowledge, attitude and practice of high school students and to provide the basic data for handwashing training and health education in the students. Methods: 750 students were conveniently sampled from high schools in metropolitan cities (400 students from four schools situated in center of the city. 350 from 3 in a suburban district). Data was collected by a standardized self-administered questionnaire between Sep. 15 to Sep. 30, 2006, and analyzed by SPSS WIN 12.0, employing chisquare test, t-test, ANOVA analysis, Scheffe test (post hoc test), and regression analysis. Results: First, in the attitude of handwashing, "type of school (technical school)", "co-education" were the highest among male student and "resident of rural community" was the highest among female student. Second, the practice of handwashing was active with "technical school", "high level of economic status", "co-education school" among male student and "grade of school", "low level of economic status", "resident of rural community" among female student. Third, in the experience of teaching handwashing, "Yes" was 13.3% which was statistically significant with handwashing knowledge, practice (p<0.05), and attitude (p<0.01). Forth, based on the result for regression analysis with handwashing knowledge, attitude and practice as dependent variables, handwashing knowledge showed statistical significancy with grade and experience of handwashing education among female students (p<0.05). The handwashing attitude showed statistical significancy with type of school, experience of handwashing education and the knowledge among male students, the knowledge among female students (p<0.05). The handwashing practice showed statistical significancy with the knowledge and attitude among male students, the attitude among female students(p<0.05). Conclusions: There are a relevance among handwashing education, knowledge, attitude and practice. If they had better knowledge, their practice were more positive and if they had better knowledge and more positive attitude, their practice were active. To enhance handwashing habit of middle school students, the handwashing environment should be maintained. The training plan should also be made according to the type of school, grade and residential area. The practice training is required to enhance students knowledge in handwashing and remove the obstacles to handwashing practice.

Keywords

• Handwashing;
• Knowledge;
• Attitude;
• Practice;
• High school students