Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A large fraction of the world’s illness and death is attributed by communicable diseases, 62% and 31% of deaths in Africa and Asia respectively are caused by infectious diseases. (Reghava, 2005). Hygiene and sanitation related diseases are the huge burden in developing countries, causing many people to fall ill even to die. (UNICEF, 1998). This study was set to assess knowledge and awareness of personal hygiene among boys of Mlimani primary school in Mwanza region.

The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of personal hygiene among boys of Mlimani primary school, to assess practices of personal hygiene, availability of materials for personal hygiene practice and availability of water in the area.

Methodology of study: descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on knowledge of personal hygiene among primary school boys of Mlimani primary school. Questionnaire method was used in data collection, and data were entered into SPSS version 20 and analyzed into frequency tables and cross tabulation for variable relationships.

Results were: total of 138 participants were enrolled, with more than 11 years’ age, with parents who 69.6% of them are farmers, and 36.2% parents with average income. Most of participants had sufficient knowledge of personal hygiene and their practices i.e. 87% of boys perform mouth hygiene daily, 90.6% of boys perform facial hygiene daily, 53.6% uses sanitizer or soap to clean hands, 84.1% use water in toilets.

Conclusion: Knowledge and Awareness of personal hygiene and its practices is very crucial in Mlimani Primary School boys. Study shows many of participants had knowledge of personal hygiene and its practices, but it also shows that still there are boys in Mlimani primary school who do not have basic knowledge of personal hygiene and its practices.