Domestic hygiene behaviour of mothers with children aged 0-5 years old in Tayabo village, Nueva Ecija, the Philippines

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a rural village in Nueva Ecija province in the Philippines to identify the association between mothers' hygiene behaviour and their socioeconomic status and household environment. A total of 206 mothers with children aged 0-5 years old participated in this study. Household visits with face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and observation of household environments were conducted. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the frequency of water boiling in mothers was significantly associated with children aged under two years old and the availability of domestic electricity. Availability of domestic electricity, mother's educational level, possession of a private lavatory and of a private well were significant predictors of whether hand-washing with soap was practiced after defecation. For hand-washing with soap before feeding children, child's age under one year old and the volume of the water supply were statistically significant. The volume of the water supply was identified as a significant predictor. Although health educational programme participation rates were very high (83.2%), no significant association with hygiene behaviour was observed. This study indicates that improvements in water availability, household environment and health education may contribute to more frequent hand-washing.