The study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of personal hygiene among 100 primary school children in rural India. It found that most children had adequate knowledge of hand hygiene but room for improvement in some practices like using tissues when coughing or sneezing. The study concluded that while personal hygiene knowledge and practices were generally satisfactory, continued education efforts are needed to further promote hygiene among students.

1. 290 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, July-September 2021, Vol. 15, No. 3
A Cross Sectional Study to Assess the Knowledge, Attitude and
Practice on Personal Hygiene among School Children in Rural
Primary School of Kheda District, Gujarat
Kailash Nagar1
Jyot Darji2
, Shiney Parmar3
, Niral Patel4
, Niyati Patel5
1
Assistant Professor & HOD, Dinsha Patel College of Nursing, Nadiad,
2 to 5 Nursing Tutor, Dinsha Patel College of Nursing, Nadiad
Abstract
Background of Study: Personal hygiene is very important in all stage of human life, but appropriate
cleanliness habits should be started from childhood. Children are who learn about good hygiene practice it
will be last longer the life and will carry during adulthood1
. Hygiene guidance counseling should start as
earliest possible along with parents so parents can teach about right hygiene to their children2.
Objectives: 1. To assess the Knowledge regarding personal hygiene among primary school children. 2. To
assess the Attitude regarding personal hygiene among primary school children. 3. To assess the practice
regarding personal hygiene among primary school children. 4. To prepare and distribute a health education
pamphlet on personal hygiene.
Methodology: The Descriptive survey approach cross sectional study research design carried out for the
study, Sampling method was Non Probability sampling technique Convenience sampling method Study
population Primary and middle school children. (5th
, 6th
& 7th
standard) Study Setting Rural Primary School
Kheda District Study Size 100 School Children’s3.
Results: Regarding the distribution of sample according to knowledge regarding hand hygiene where 3(10%)
had Moderate knowledge, 27(90%) Had Adequate Knowledge and none of them had inadequate knowledge.
Only 17.3 % children’s found that they does not used and cloth or tissue paper during sneezing or coughing
and rest of para-meter regarding hand hygiene were founded that primary school children had good practice.
Key words: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Health, Hygiene, Prevention and Diseases.
Corresponding author:-
Mr. Kailash Nagar
Assistant Professor & HOD, Dinsha Patel College of
Nursing, Nadiad,
Email Id: dpcnkailash@gmail.com
Address:- Dinsha Patel College of Nursing, Behind
Hyundai Showroom, College road, Nadiad, District-
Kheda, Gujarat-387001
Introduction
Personal hygiene is very important in all stage of
human life, but appropriate cleanliness habits should
be started from childhood. Children are who learn
about good hygiene practice it will be last longer the
life and will carry during adulthood. Hygiene guidance
counseling should start as earliest possible along with
parents so parents can teach about right hygiene to their
children1.
No one wanted to discuss about personal hygiene
most of people avoid it. In government schools the
teacher often teach about hygiene and cleanliness to the
students, they take very less interest to teach the students.
Providing proper teaching the basics importance of
personal hygiene for keeping children’s healthy and
clean. Children those not maintain proper hygiene or
with poor hygiene are most often suffer from various

2. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, July-September 2021, Vol. 15, No. 3 291
health problems.
Most common health problem related to childhood
can be reduced by proper hand washing practice with
soap before eating food and after using of the toilet4. A
survey conducted by United nation of child emergency
fund among school children the survey result shows
that 50 percent health problems found were related to
lack of personal hygiene and poor sanitation. A research
study conducted some backward and poor areas of the
Pakistan5. The study result evidence that proper hand
washing with soap reduce 50 percentage chances of
infectious disease among children as well as adult5.
They provide soap through donations, to the families.
It means only hand washing with soap can reduce the
chances of various infectious disease.
Methodology
Research Approach:- Descriptive survey approach
Research Design: - Cross sectional study
Sampling method:- Non Probability sampling
technique Convenience sampling method
Study population: - All Primary and middle school
children. (5th
, 6th
& 7th
standard)
Study Setting: Rural Primary School Kheda District
Study Size: - 100 School Children’s (5th
, 6th
& 7th
standard)
Results
Finding related to distribution of sample according
to age sample 0 (0%) belong age group of 5-6 years,
sample 3(10%) belong age group of 7-8 years, sample
27 (90%) belong age group of 9-10 years.
Regarding the Gender Primary School Children’s
out of 30 samples, 13(43.33%) were Female and
17(56.67%) were Male.
RegardingtheReligionofPrimarySchoolChildren’s
out of 30 samples, 29(96.67%) were Hindu, 1(3.33%)
Christian, and there was no one belongs to Muslim and
other religion.
Regarding the Father Education of Primary School
Children’s out of 30 samples, 1(3.33%) was illiterate,
12(40%) were primary education, 16(53.34%) were
secondary education, 1(3.33%) were higher secondary
education, No one having graduate or Above
Regarding the Mother Education of Primary School
Children’s out of 30 samples, 8(26.67%) was illiterate,
16(53.34%) were primary education, 6(20.%) were
secondary education, No one High Secondary and
graduate or Above.
Regarding the Class of Study of Primary School
Children’s out of 30 samples, 10(33.34%) were Study in
3rd
standard and 10(33.33%) were Study in 4th
standard
and 10(33.33%) were Study in 5th
standard. Regarding
the father occupation of Primary School Children’s out
of 30 samples, 0(0%) was Unemployment, 1(3.33%)
Govt. job, 8(26.67%) were private job, 21(70.%) were
business.Regarding the distribution of sample according
to knowledge regarding hand hygiene where 3(10%)
had Moderate knowledge, 27(90%) Had Adequate
Knowledge and none of them had inadequate knowledge.
Only 17.3 % children’s found that they does not used
and cloth or tissue paper during sneezing or coughing
and rest of para-meter regarding hand hygiene were
founded that primary school children had good practice.

3. 292 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, July-September 2021, Vol. 15, No. 3
Table:1 Demographic Data:
SN Variables Categories Frequency(F)
1 Age
8-9 years 12
10-11 years 43
12-13 years 37
14 – 15 years 08
2 Gender
Female 64
Male 36
3 Religion
Hindu 68
Christian 20
Muslim 12
Other 00
4
Class of Study
5th Standard 49
6th Standard 43
7th Standard 08
5 Father Education
Non Formal Education 15
Primary 78
Secondary 07
Higher secondary 00
Degree and above 00
6 Mother Education
Non Formal Education 85
Primary 09
Secondary 06
Higher secondary 00
Degree and above 00
7 Father Occupation
Unemployment 25
Govt. Job 00
Private Job 34
Business 41
Others 00

4. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, July-September 2021, Vol. 15, No. 3 293
Table: 02 Knowledge about Personal Hygiene
Score Number of Sample Percentage (%)
Inadequate Knowledge 59 59%
Moderate Knowledge 16 16%
Adequate Knowledge 25 25%
TOTAL 100 100 %
Table: 03 Attitude about Personal Hygiene
Score Number Of Sample Percentage (%)
Inadequate Attitude 20 20 %
Moderate favourable Attitude 09 09 %
Adequate favourable Attitude 71 71%
TOTAL 100 100%
Table: 04 Practice regarding Personal Hygiene
Question Categories Frequency(F) Percentage (%)
Cleaning teeth/tooth brush
Daily 55 55 %
Alternative days 30 30 %
Once in a Week 15 15 %
Using toothpowder/toothpaste
Yes 87 87 %
No 13 13 %
Ever visited a dentist
Yes 19 19 %
No 81 81 %
How option do you trim your
Nails
Once in a Week 12 12 %
Once in a Month 20 20 %
When Nail Grow 68 68 %
Do you cut your nail by mouth
Yes 39 39 %
No 61 61 %
Do you play in Mud or Dirty
Water
Yes 72 72 %
No 28 28 %
Does you have habit of nose
picking
Yes 22 22 %
No 78 78 %
How option do you take bath
Daily 86 86 %
Alternate Days 14 14 %
Twice in a Week
00 00 %

5. 294 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, July-September 2021, Vol. 15, No. 3
Question Categories Frequency(F) Percentage (%)
How option do you change
cloth
Daily 100 100 %
Alternate Days 00 00 %
Twice in a Week 00 00 %
How option your mother wash
your cloth
Daily 04 04 %
Alternate Days 07 07 %
Twice in a Week 89 89 %
Conclusion
The study result and finding concluded that the most
of primary school children’s has adequate knowledge
and practice regarding hand hygiene. Only 17.3 %
children’s found that they does not used and cloth or
tissue paper during sneezing or coughing and rest of
Para-meter regarding hand hygiene were founded that
primary school children had good practice.
The study findings can be concluded that the
average percentage of hygiene practice in terms of
knowledge, attitude and practices among government
primary school children was found to be satisfactory,
Majority of students seem to use well hygiene practice,
filtered water for drinking purpose, proper bathing,
washing cloth and school uniform, hand hygiene and
tooth brushing. Individual cleanliness is anything but a
disconnected conduct; rather it changes from individual
to individual as per various variables. Intercession
programs raising the mindfulness and significance of
individual cleanliness among younger students through
facilitated training measures by educators and instructive
printed cleanliness flyer. Based on our research results
and finding we believe that the higher authority and
education department of India or state has to take initiate
and should develop polices and guideline for school
regarding health awareness and personal hygiene and
all the primary school teacher must aware about it and
should be practice health checkup regularly basis in
order to reduce minor alignment among primary school
children because they are the future of the national.
Conflict of Interest: Nil
Source of Funding: College Management
Cont... Table: 04 Practice regarding Personal Hygiene
Ethical Clearance: The study was approved by the
research committee, IEC – DPCN/1st
IEC/2018-19/09
and a formal written permission was gathered from the
authority of Primary Schools.
Statement of Informed consent: Informed consent
was acquired from the participants
References
1. Hygiene. [Internet]. 2012 [cited September 2012]
Available from: https://www.wikidoc.org/index.
php/Hygiene
2. Angela Oswalt, MSW, Natalie, Early childhood
hygiene [Internet] Available from: ,https://www.
gracepointwellness.org/462-child-development-
parenting-early-3-7/article/14296-early-childhood-
hygiene
3. Denise F. Polit, Bernadette P. Hungler. Nursing
research, principal and methods,6th
edition.
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins publisher: 1999.
4. Fosiul A. Nizame, Leanne Unicomb, Handwashing
before Food Preparation and Child Feeding,
Bangladesh 2013 Dec 4; 89(6):1179–1185.
Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pmc/articles/PMC3854896/
5. United Nations International Children’s Emergency
Fund (UNICEF),[Internet] 2021, Available from:
https://www.ungm.org/Shared/KnowledgeCenter/
Pages/UNICEF
6. Sarkar M. (2013). Personal hygiene among
primary school children living in a slum of
kolkata, india. Journal of preventive medicine and
hygiene, 54(3), 153–158. available from:https://
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc4718376/
7. Ullah I, serwar g. Intestinal worm infestation in

6. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, July-September 2021, Vol. 15, No. 3 295
primary school children in rural peshawar. Gomal
journal of medical sciences. 2009;7(2):132-136.
available from: http://gjms.com.pk/files/gjms%20
vol-7-2(13).pdf
8. Y Asnmaruthi, K aruna lakshmi, Ramakrishna
rao,. Dermatophytes and other fungi associated
with hair-scalp of primary school children in
visakhapatnam, india: a case study and literature
review. The internet Journal of Microbiology. 2007
Volume 5 Number 2. Available from: https://ispub.
com/IJMB/5/2/6454#
9. Kumar S, Panwar J, vyas A, Sharma J, Goutham
B, et al. Tooth cleaning frequency in relation to
socio-demographic variables and personal hygiene
measures among school children of Udaipur district,
India. International Journal of Dental Hygiene.
2011;9(1):3-8.Available from: https://europepmc.
org/article/med/21226844
10. Lopez-Quintero C, Freeman P, Neumark Y. Hand
Washing Among School Children in Bogotá,
Colombia. American Journal of Public Health.
2009;99(1):94-101.Available from :https://
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19008513/