title: Hygiene practices and faecal contamination of the hands of children attending primary school in Mauritius.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increasing prevalence of paediatric infections have been associated with poor levels of hygienic practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study aimed at investigating the level of hygiene practices among 200 school children aged 6-10 years. Their hands were swabbed and the bacteria were identified by Gram staining and conventional biochemical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 200 samples, 91.0% (182) showed bacterial growth. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus was the most common bacterium isolated from 76.9% (140) of the samples followed by Micrococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Proteus and Escherichia coli. Children aged 9-10 years were more likely to wash their hands before eating than those aged 6-8 years (OR=2.0; p<0.05). A higher bacterial growth was noted from children who washed their hands with water only than those who used soap (OR=5.9; p<0.05). Furthermore, children aged 6-8 years were more likely to have oral-digital habits (OR=2.5; p<0.05), less likely to wash hands after using the toilet, more prone to use water only to wash their hands at home and had higher bacterial growth (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A scarcity of soap was noted in the schools which could prevent the children from adopting proper hygiene practices. Furthermore, children should be often reminded of the importance of hygienic practices.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Technologist, Victoria Hospital, Ministry of Health & Quality of Life, Candos, Mauritius.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Padaruth
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius s.biranjia@uom.ac.mu.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Biranjia-Hurdoyal
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D004435:Eating; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008436:Mauritius; D012574:Schools; D012915:Soaps
chemical_list: D012915:Soaps
keywords: Bacteria; Children; Contamination; Hygiene; Infections; Soap