Comprehensive intervention of hand-washing in school: Its effect evaluation on improving students′ absence from school due to illness

Objective To evaluate the effect of comprehensive hand-washing intervention in school on improving school absence due to illness.

Methods In 2015, a total of 1 487 students were selected from two public primary schools in Putuo District, Shanghai.In one of the two schools was carried out a one-year comprehensive hand-washing intervention, which included facilities renovation, institutional implementation and health education, while in the other control school was not carried out any intervention mentioned above.The information of absence from these two schools due to illness during 2015-2016 school years was collected.

Results There was no significant difference found between intervention and control schools in the number of absence days per 100 students per week in baseline, which were 3.13±1.82 days and 3.28±1.54 days.After the intervention, the number of days of absence per 100 students per week due to illness of intervention school (2.64±1.34) days was significantly lower than that of control school (5.45±3.13) days, P < 0.001.The decrease trend of days of absence due to respiratory-borne symptoms/diseases was the most obvious.

Conclusion Within one year the comprehensive intervention of hand-washing based on the framework of health-promoting school conception, including facility modification, policy implementation and health education, can effectively reduce the incidence of school absence due to illness, especially respiratory infectious diseases among primary school students.In this regard there is need for joint efforts of school, family and society to form students′ hygiene practices.