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Establishing Healthy Personal Hygiene Habits with Young Children in Australia: A Cross-Sectional Mixed Methods Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2021

Amy E. Mitchell Open the ORCID record for Amy E. Mitchell [Opens in a new window] ,
Kavindri Kulasinghe  and
Alina Morawska
Amy E. Mitchell*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Kavindri Kulasinghe
Affiliation:
Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Alina Morawska
Affiliation:
Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Amy E. Mitchell, School of Nursing and Midwifery and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia. Email: amy.mitchell@griffith.edu.au
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Abstract

Effective and consistent engagement in personal hygiene practices is important for preventing the acquisition and transmission of communicable diseases in childhood. This study aimed to investigate trends in adherence to recommended hygiene practices and identify factors contributing to difficulties in establishing good hygiene habits with young children (0–4 years) in Australia. A self-selected community sample of parents (N = 426) completed an online survey assessing children's adherence to recommended hygiene practices and barriers and enablers of establishing good personal hygiene habits. Parents reported interest in receiving information/tips on children's personal hygiene (yes/no) and nominated topics of interest. Less than half of children in any age group consistently (always/almost always) covered coughs and sneezes, washed hands after toileting, or washed hands before meals or when dirty. Children's non-compliance (i.e. resistance, refusal) was the most commonly reported barrier to establishing good personal hygiene habits, while children's compliance (i.e. cooperative behaviour, following or complying with caregivers’ instructions) was the most commonly cited enabler. Despite low levels of adherence, less than half (41.2%) of parents wanted information/tips on children's hygiene. Results suggest a disconnect between parents’ knowledge about recommended hygiene practices and actual behaviour. Development and testing of approaches to behaviour change that incorporate evidence-based strategies to manage children's resistance and support parents to encourage the development of healthy hygiene habits is warranted.

Keywords

child behaviourchild healthhygieneparentinghandwashing
Type
Standard Paper
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 39 , Issue 1 , April 2022 , pp. 37 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy

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