Reports from the CDC in 1994 indicate that the spread of infectious disease accounts for more than 164 million school days lost each year for kindergarten through twelfth grade public school students. Evidence supporting this statistic stems from the fact that the inherent nature of the school environment necessitates close contact, sharing of objects and often food, and inevitably facilitates the transfer of germs. Handwashing is one of the simplest, most reliable, and economically feasible mechanisms for reducing the transmission of bacterial and viral pathogens. Yet inadequate compliance is observed even in very young children, who are at an increased risk for developing illness from communicable infections. Furthermore, observational studies of children attending private schools reveal that overall compliance for handwashing among middle and high school students after bathroom use is approximately fifty percent. Although these findings are somewhat disturbing, research by Masier et al indicates that scheduled handwashing can reduce gastro-intestinal illness and related absences by more than fifty percent. Other investigations have also demonstrated the beneficial effects of handwashing on illness reduction. Research suggests that it is imperative that children learn at an early age about the importance of proper hand hygiene in reducing illness transmission and that these lessons be reinforced throughout the K-12 school curricula. Establishing and reinforcing proper hygiene habits during childhood can potentially lead to a lifetime of healthy hygiene habits and reduced risk for communicable illnesses for all.
Learning Objectives: By close of this session, participants will be able to describe the current knowledge base, challenges, and benefits of improving handwashing in schools.
Keywords: School Health,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.