Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117375

Shunling Tsang, MPH¹, Peter J. Lee, MPH¹, Lucia C. McLendon, MPH¹, Catherine W. Gribbin, MPH¹, and Theresa J. McCann, MPH, PhD². (1) School of Medicine, St. George's University, PO Box 7, St. George's, Grenada, 473-534-4575, tsashu@sgu.edu, (2) School of Medicine, Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, University Centre, St. George's, Grenada

Introduction: Knowledge of appropriate personal hygiene and sanitation are essential components of public health, particularly after a natural disaster. It has been widely acknowledged that personal hygiene and appropriate sanitation methods lead to decreased spread of disease. This study seeks to define the effect of health and hygiene education on 40 Grenadian families receiving pit latrines after Hurricane Ivan.

Methods: Upon the delivery of pit latrines to the designated families a pre-knowledge test will be given to members of the recipient families 5 years of age and greater to determine the baseline knowledge of personal hygiene and sanitation. After administering the test, recipients will participate in a health education workshops targeting appropriate use of latrines as a method to decrease the spread of disease. A post test will be given to assess improvement in knowledge and awareness surrounding personal hygiene and sanitation.

Results: Researchers anticipate an improvement in knowledge by latrine recipients who participated in health education workshops. Results will be stratified by age and gender to identify particular groups for further targeted health education activities.

Discussion: This study hopes to set a precedent for health education campaigns implemented post natural disaster in developing countries in regard to personal hygiene and sanitation. Additionally, we intend to outline easily replicable health education kit for use in future post-disaster management.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate knowledge outcomes resulting from post-disaster hygiene and sanitation education using pre and post knowledge tests
• Discuss opportunities for the development of hygiene and sanitation education post-disasters in conjunction with families receiving pit latrines

Keywords: Disasters, Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.