title: A cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of a handwashing-promotion program in Chinese primary schools.
abstract: Intensive handwashing promotion can reduce diarrheal and respiratory disease incidence. To determine whether less intensive, more scalable interventions can improve health, we evaluated a school-based handwashing program. We randomized 87 Chinese schools to usual practices: standard intervention (handwashing program) or expanded intervention (handwashing program, soap for school sinks, and peer hygiene monitors). We compared student absence rates, adjusting for cluster design. In control schools, children experienced a median 2.0 episodes (median 2.6 days) of absence per 100 student-weeks. In standard intervention schools, there were a median 1.2 episodes (P = 0.08) and 1.9 days (P = 0.14) of absence per 100 student-weeks. Children in expanded intervention schools experienced a median 1.2 episodes (P = 0.03) and 1.2 days (P = 0.03) of absence per 100 student-weeks. Provision of a large-scale handwashing promotion program and soap was associated with significantly reduced absenteeism. Similar programs could improve the health of children worldwide.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. abowen@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Huilai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Ward
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Billhimer
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luby
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012915:Soaps
chemical_list: D012915:Soaps