Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards hand hygiene among students of St. Paul and Paulins secondary school aged 18 years and above in Masaka city. A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Proper hand hygiene is a fundamental practice for preventing infectious diseases, yet compliance remains inconsistent, especially in resource-limited settings. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards hand hygiene among students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2024. A sample of 96 students was determined using Slovin's formula and selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed to generate descriptive statistics.

Results: Of the 96 students, 56.3% were female, 47.9% were aged 21-23 years, and 71.9% were boarding students. Knowledge was high, with 87.5% aware of the importance of hand hygiene and 83.3% identifying soap and water as the most effective method. Attitudes were positive, with 62.5% strongly agreeing on its importance for health. However, practices were inconsistent. While 72.9% always washed hands after handling garbage, only 57.3% always did so after coughing or sneezing.

Conclusion: A disparity exists between high knowledge/positive attitudes and inconsistent practical application of hand hygiene, indicating that awareness alone is insufficient for behavioral change.

Recommendation: The school administration should enhance hand hygiene education through interactive training, improve access to and maintenance of handwashing facilities, and implement regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure sustained compliance.