title: The Determinants of Reported Personal and Household Hygiene Behaviour: A Multi-Country Study.
abstract: A substantial proportion of the total infectious disease burden world-wide is due to person-to-person spread of pathogens within households. A questionnaire-based survey on the determinants of hand-washing with soap and cleaning of household surfaces was conducted in at least 1000 households in each of twelve countries across the world (N = 12,239). A structural equation model of hygiene behaviour and its consequences derived from theory was then estimated on this dataset for both behaviours, using a maximum likelihood procedure. The analysis showed that the frequency of handwashing with soap is significantly related to how automatically it is performed, and whether or not someone is busy, or tired. Surface cleaning was strongly linked to possessing a cleaning routine, the perception that one is living in a dirty environment and that others are doing the behaviour, whether one has a strong sense of contamination, as well as a felt need to keep one's surroundings tidy. Being concerned with good manners is also linked to the performance of both behaviours. This study is the first to identify the role of manners, orderliness and routine on hygiene behaviours globally. Such findings should prove helpful in designing programs to improve domestic hygiene practices.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aunger
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Education, University College London, London, England.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ploubidis
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, London, England.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oxford
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007390:International Agencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D057566:Self Report; D012915:Soaps; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012915:Soaps