title: Effects of hand hygiene campaigns on incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza and absenteeism in schoolchildren, Cairo, Egypt.
abstract: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive hand hygiene campaign on reducing absenteeism caused by influenza-like illness (ILI), diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and laboratory-confirmed influenza, we conducted a randomized control trial in 60 elementary schools in Cairo, Egypt. Children in the intervention schools were required to wash hands twice each day, and health messages were provided through entertainment activities. Data were collected on student absenteeism and reasons for illness. School nurses collected nasal swabs from students with ILI, which were tested by using a qualitative diagnostic test for influenza A and B. Compared with results for the control group, in the intervention group, overall absences caused by ILI, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and laboratory-confirmed influenza were reduced by 40%, 30%, 67%, and 50%, respectively (p<0.0001 for each illness). An intensive hand hygiene campaign was effective in reducing absenteeism caused by these illnesses.
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Cairo, Egypt. maha.talaat.ctr.eg@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talaat
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dueger
authors.forename: Nagwa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Ashry
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marfin
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kandeel
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohareb
authors.forename: Nasr
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D002648:Child; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000193:education; D015994:Incidence; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students