Importance Of Handwashing

A number of studies have been conducted to create, measure, assess and evaluate awareness of the importance of proper hand washing in preventing outbreaks of food-borne disease and other illnesses among healthcare professionals, youth, adults and the community at large. The recommended hand washing practice was rarely followed by youth and adults yet they believe that hand washing is very important as documented by many studies ‎2.

2.1 The Behavior Change Framework (FOAM).

Hand washing behavior change programs were developed, monitored and evaluated based on the Focus on Opportunity, Ability, and Motivation (FOAM) framework. FOAM Other socio economic environments can adapt the FOAM framework as developed for use in resource-poor settings. Focus, Opportunity, Ability, and Motivation (FOAM) are determinants that influence hand washing. Components of this model are presented in Figure 2. Other global health interventions has make use of the frame work based on the original work proposed by Rothschild , mainly used by Population Services International (PSI) .

The FOAM Framework’s components are:

A). Focus refers to clearly identifying the action performed and who should perform it on the behavior change intervention.

1. Target behavior : Behaviors definition include not only the action to be performed (hand washing), but also the circumstance in which it is performed such as after toilet use or before taking a meal.

2. Target Population: The population might be providers delivering babies or caring for new born, caretakers of children under certain age requiring hand washing practices.

B). Opportunity: The chance of performing a behavior including the resources needed to perform the behavior. Individuals expected to engage in ...

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...rovide immediate motivation to wash hands with soap which is a threat.

4. Intention: Plan on how to hand wash with soap is intention. It entails purchasing soap, fetching water, or ensuring a functional hand washing station. Theory of reasoned action point out that a powerful motivator of behavior is intention and predictor of behavior change is action(19).

Figure 2 contains a breakdown of the different model components into subcomponents.

Flexibility in identifying hand washing determinants in the framework helps program managers and researchers because factors that influence hand washing or any behavior may be content as well as juncture specific. Hand washing vary from country to country, determinants that operate in a given country setting might not operate in another also hand washing determinants that influence one juncture might not influence another(19).