Factors motivating hygiene habits in wash among primary school children in kasongo municipality, drc

This study explored factors that can motivate and/or impede hygiene habits in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) among primary school children. A cross sectional survey was carried out among 294 children and 4 head teachers in 4 selected schools. Data were collected using questionnaire and observation checklist regarding socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of respondents about hand washing practices among children from selected schools. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0 after the data has been entered using Microsoft Excel. As results, out of these study findings, majority are boys with 164(55.8%) against 130 girls (44.2%). 114(38.8%) respondents were in 9-11 years of age, followed by those whore had 12 years and over. At last, 75(25.5%) children were in 6-8 years category. According to the religion, 92(31.3%) children were Protestants, followed by 86(29.3%) who were Catholics; whilst 79(26.9%) were Moslems. In view of the results, we noted that 211(71.80%) were educated about hand washing practice against 83(28.20%) who never been educated. According to the reason for washing hands with soap, 178(60.5%) children cited mainly to prevent diseases, and only 26(8.8%) children cited a personal hygiene. The study found that main source of information on importance of hand washing education was from teacher at school 154(52.4%). The knowledge of critical times for to wash hands concerned essentially; before and after eating 170(12.9%), before preparing food 85(28.9%), and after playing with friends 33(11.2%); while only 6(2.0%) children cited the visit of toilet. Most 140(47.6%) children in Kasongo primary school settings prefer wash the hands with water and liquid soap, followed by those 129(43.9%) who cited bar soap. 47(30%) children do not practice proper hand washing with soap, both in school and at home due to the unavailability and inaccessibility to hand washing facilities such as soap and water. This study has shown that education, knowledge of importance of washing hands with soap at each critical hand washing times, training on hygiene and sanitation, were factors motivated hygiene habits in WASH practices. Then, there is the need for effective for Information, Education and Communication to help promote hand washing knowledge and practices among primary school children.