Personal Hygiene Practices: Impact of Hygiene Education on Preschool Students in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Abstract

Pathogenic microorganisms that cause severe infections in humans are primarily spread due to poor personal hygiene practices, such as inadequate handwashing and toothbrushing. Proper handwashing with soap and effective toothbrushing are recognized as essential defences against upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and diarrheal diseases, as well as dental plaque, periodontal disease, and dental caries. This study implemented a comprehensive personal hygiene program aimed at preschool students, focusing on delivering hygiene education and incorporating pre- and post-education surveys to assess the program’s effectiveness and impact. The personal hygiene activities were specifically defined as handwashing and oral hygiene. Participants included preschool students aged three to five years from Samdach Hun Sen Dangkor Primary School. The findings showed that pre- education personal hygiene scores for handwashing were below 1%, which significantly increased to 93% following the educational intervention, as verified by the "Hand washing training unit LED UV light." Similarly, pre-education scores for toothbrushing were 9%, with a notable improvement to 57%, as measured by the Qscan Plus device. An awareness survey conducted with 10 selected preschool students who participated in the training indicated a substantial enhancement in daily handwashing and toothbrushing practices post-training, with an improvement rate exceeding 50% for each question in the hand hygiene session (except for two questions) and over 80% for tooth hygiene after waking and post-meals. These results underscore the effectiveness of the training program in enhancing students’ daily hygiene practices.