Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine some knowledge and attitudes related to the social hand washing of individuals who apply to a health center and to examine the relationships with some socio-demographic characteristic.
METHODS: The universe of this epidemiological descriptive study was applicants (over 18 years old) of a primary health center in five business days. A questionnaire, which was prepared by the researchers, was applied to the applicants who agree to participate in the survey with face to face interview method. The mean scores of the knowledge and positive attitude of participants were calculated and the percentage distribution, t-test and One Way Anova were used in analysis.
RESULTS: 77.9% of participants in research were female, 31.0% were primary school graduate and 75.5% were married. Of the participants, 41.5% were washing hands 11 times and over in a day. The mean scores of the knowledge and positive attitudes of participants were 61.6±21.4 and 61.9±13.4, respectively. The mean knowledge and positive attitudes scores were significantly different increases with education (p=0.002, p=0.013 respectively). The mean scores of positive attitudes of females were higher than males and difference is statistically significant (p=0.001).
CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be said that the knowledge and positive attitudes about hand washing influenced by socio-demographic characteristics. It can be concluded that the most appropriate solution for improving knowledge and positive attitudes about hand washing is to increase the level of education.

Key words: Primary Health Center, Hand washing, Knowledge, Attitude

Article Language: Turkish English