Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Program on Knowledge and Practice of Hand Washing among Primary School Children in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: Hand hygiene is a simple, cost-effective, and highly efficient measure for preventing infectious diseases, especially among children. Despite its proven importance, hand washing practices remain suboptimal, contributing to the burden of preventable infections. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Program (STP) on knowledge and practice regarding hand washing among primary school children.

Methods: A quantitative evaluative approach with a pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted. The study was
conducted among 80 primary school children aged 7–11 years in selected schools of Udaipur, Rajasthan, using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a validated self-structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic variables, knowledge (15 MCQs), and practice (9 checklist items). A STP was implemented between pre-test and post-test. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired t-test and correlation analysis.

Results: Post-intervention findings showed a significant improvement in both knowledge and practice regarding hand washing. In the posttest, 55% of children had adequate knowledge compared to none in the pre-test, and 70% demonstrated adequate practice compared to none in the pre-test. The mean knowledge score increased from 14.8 to 23.9, and the mean practice score increased from 8.8 to 15.3, both statistically significant (P < 0.05). A low positive correlation (r = 0.1748) was found between post-test knowledge and practice.

Conclusion: The STP was effective in significantly improving both knowledge and practice of hand washing among primary school children.