Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on handwashing practices among community members in the middle belt of Ghana: evidence from a cross-sectional study

• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2024.47.122.37914
• Publication Date: 2024-03-19T11:00:50Z
• Authors: Edward Anane Apraku; Sulemana Watara A...; Richard Joshua Te...; Samuel Afari-Asiedu; Ekow Samuel Harrison; Francis Agbokey; Solomon Nyame; Mieks Frenken Twu...; Wisdom Adeapena; Charles Zandoh; Livesy Naafoe Abokyi; Lawrence Gyabaa F...; Kwaku Poku Asante
• Keywords: Pandemic; Hand washing; Cross-sectional study

Handwashing is an effective public health intervention for preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Maintenance clean hands particularly important during pandemic, to break cycle human-to-human transmission virus. This study explored potential impact COVID-19 pandemic on handwashing behaviours residents before and pandemic. A mixed-method cross-sectional design using standardised questionnaire was used examine hand among in middle belt Ghana. However, this paper reports quantitative data behaviour only. total 517 participants between 18 60 years were randomly selected from Kintampo Health Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) database. Descriptive statistics performed McNamar test estimate difference residents. Majority respondents females (54.6%). The majority them 77.0% (398) usually wash their with soap water. Those who washed 4 6 times a day increased 39.9% (159) 43.7% (174). About 34.8% (180) had received training washing television 53.3% (96) emerged as main source training. Ownership facilities 11.4% (59) 22.8% (118) odds after handshaking lower 0.64 (95% C1: 0.44-0.92,) Television (53.3%) (34.8%). owning facility 3 higher than (OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.94 - 4.65). sneezing 1.8 1.19-2.92) improved before. there need intensify education media engagement proper practices protect population against infectious diseases.