What
is Hygiene
As
defined by Webster’s dictionary,’ hygiene’
is the science of health, its preservation and prevention of disease. Hygiene
is an old concept related to medicine, as well as to personal and professional
care practices related to most aspects of living. In medicine and in home
(domestic) and everyday life settings, hygiene practices are employed as
preventive measures to reduce the incidence and spreading of disease. The terms
cleanliness (or cleaning) and hygiene are often used interchangeably,
which can cause confusion. In general, hygiene mostly means practices that
prevent spread of disease-causing organisms. Since cleaning processes (e.g.,
hand washing) remove infectious microbes as well as dirt and soil, they are
often the means to achieve hygiene. Other uses of the term appear
in phrases including: body hygiene, personal hygiene, sleep Hygiene, mental
Hygiene, dental hygiene,
and occupational hygiene, used in connection with public health. Webster
also defined ‘Personal’ as
‘belonging or particular to one person, private, a personal opinion and
personal belongings/done by oneself.
Personal Hygiene
Personal
hygiene involves those practices performed by an individual to care for ones bodily
health arid well being, through cleanliness. Motivations for personal hygiene
practice include reduction of personal illness, healing from personal illness,
optimal health and sense of well being, social acceptance and prevention of
spread of illness to others. Other practices that are generally considered
proper hygiene include bath regularly, washing hands regularly and especially
before handling food, washing scalp hair, keeping hair short or removing hair,
wearing underwear, wearing clean clothing, brushing one s teeth, cutting finger
nails, besides other practices. Some practices are gender-specific, such as by
a woman during her menstrual cycle. People tend to develop a routine for
attending to their personal hygiene needs. Other personal hygienic practices
would include covering one’s mouth when coughing, disposal of soiled tissues
appropriately, making sure toilets are clean, and making sure food handlirg
areas are clean.
Personal
hygiene is the first step to good grooming and good health. Elementary
cleanliness is common knowledge. Neglect causes problems that you may not even
be aware of. Many people with bad breath are blissfully unaware of it. Some
problems may not be your fault at all, but improving standards of hygiene will
control these conditions. Dandruff is a case in point. More often than you
know, good looks are the result of careful and continuous grooming. Every
external part of the body demands a basic amount of attention on a regular
basis. Developing
countries like Nigeria would not achieve their 2015 millennium target for
reduction in child mortality without significant improvement in personal and public hygiene. Current
epidemiological evidence shows that, hand washing with soap would make a significant
contribution 1:0 meeting the millennium development goal of reducing the 1990
death among children under the age of five by two third by 2015 in developing
countries.
THE PROBLEM/SITUATION ANALYSIS
-Over
10% of Nigeria children aged 5-10 have germs on their hands that cause diseases
like diarrhea, cholera and typhoid (NIMR 2011)
-Each
year, more than 3.5millon children of our worlds do riot live to celebrate
their fifth birthday because of diarrhea and pneumonia.(NPC/ICF Macro, 2009).
-Over
272millon school days are lost each year due to absenteeism related to diarrhea
diseases.
-These
two killers account for at most 400,000 child death annually in Nigeria.
Nigeria
has the second highest number of child death due to diarrhea in the world.
(UNICEF/WHO
2009)
-Many
Nigerian adult have also died from cholera, typhoid and related diseases due to
poor hand washing culture.
-Many
of these deaths can be avoided, yet these conditions continue to cause mortally.
RATIONAL FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE:
-Hand
washing with soap is not the habit of the majority
Hand
washing with soap at critical times (before handling food and after using the
toilet) is low ranging from zero to 34 percent.
-In
Nigeria, mothers believe the most critical times of washing hand with soap for
their children are: before eating (46%); after using the toilet (31%) and after
handling dirty things (23%)-NIMR 2011.
-Not
as many that know about it practice it.
-It
s not essentially a problem of scarcity of water or lack of soap. Laundry, bathing
and washing of dishes are seen as the priorities for soap use.
-The
challenge is to make hand washing with soap a habit in daily routine worldwide
and an accepted social norm.
-Only
20% of mothers in Nigeria, link germs in the hand with diseases.
-About
88% of Nigerian mothers desire more education on proper hand washing with soap
(NIMR 2011)
TEETH
Teeth
are the hardest parts of the human body. Yet hard as they are, teeth can decay.
Have you ever had a ‘ A cavity is a hole in a tooth. It develops when tiny
bacteria eat away at the enamel and dentin. Luckily, a dentist can fill the
holes that bacteria make. Once a tooth decays, it can easily crack arid break.
That’s why it’s so important to keep teeth clean. Brushing your teeth helps get
rid of bacteria and the bits of food that bacteria feed on. You won’t believe
what people used to clean their teeth before toothpaste was invented
Have you heard of the sixty-second battery operated
wonder brush? It has been analysed that it takes only that long to give your
teeth a good brush. You have to hold the brush to your teeth and say cheese (and
then perhaps S-A-U-C-E for the brush to get a good scrub inside!).
Well,
whether it is a neem twig or battery brush, you cannot give brushing a miss.
Brush
teeth twice a day and rinse well after every mea Brushing before going to bed
is important. (Especially recommended for people with a sweet tooth). For
normal teeth this is adequate. While
brushing, pay alienation to the fact that you are getting rid of the food
particles, stuck in between the teeth and in the crevices of the flatter teeth
at the back, the molars and pre molars. Brush down on the upper teeth and brush
up on the lower teeth. Use a circular motion. Pay attention to the tongue and
the inner surface of teeth as well. The
brush should have resilient bristles. It should be rinsed well and left to dry
after use. There are no perfect toothpastes or powders. Use one without harsh
abrasives or strong antiseptics. *rinse
your mouth in the morning before eating and brush after meal.
Hands
The
world around us swarms with micro-organisms. Some bacteria are found on our
bodies. In countries where food is eaten and prepared with bare hands, extra
attention has to be paid to the cleanliness of hands. Besides, a permanent
layer of dust or grime reduces the sensitivity of the hands. Wash hands
thoroughly with soap and water before and after every meal and after visiting
the toilet. Soaping and rinsing should cover the areas between fingers, nails
and back, of the hand. Hands should be dried with a clean towel fter wash. The
towel at the wash stand has to be washed. changed every day. n situations where
hand washing with soap is not an option (e.g. when in a public place with no
access to wash facilities),, a waterless hand sanitizer
such as an alcohol hand gel can be used. While
cooking, especially when packing lunches, you can prevent food from spoilage
and minimize contamination by three
to four times a day with a so bristled brush or a wide toothed comb. Wash your
brush and comb every time you wash your hair. O the scalp, once a week, p an
how before h wash. There
are no completely s or permanent hair dyes of now. Apart from causing scalp
allergies, dyes can also cause aller ic colds and throat conditions. Perform a
sensitivity test every time you use hair colour.
THE
EYE
This
is defined as an organ of sight that converts light impinging on it. into
nervous impulses.
*
eat food rich in vitamins A (e.g. carrot, fish, etc.)
*do
not allow chemicals to enter the eye
*avoid
using dirty hands on your eye
SKIN
Modest young women should be taught to wash
themselves. A dip is quite different from the daily bath personal hygiene
demands. Soap and water are essential for keeping the skin clean. A good bath
once or twice a day is recommended, especially in tropical L like Nigeria. Those
who are involved in active sports c r work out to a sweat would do well to take
a bath alter the activity. A mild soap will do the job adequately. Germicidal
or antiseptic soaps are not essential for the daily bath. You can use a bath
sponge for scrubbing. Back brushes and heel scrubbers where available. Do not
use abrasive materials. Genitals and anus need to be cleaned welt because of
the natural secretions of these areas. Unhygienic conditions can cause
irritation and infection. Wash off well after soaping. Drying with a clean
towel is important. Avoid sharing soaps and towels. Change into clean underwear
after bath. Around middle age, the skin tends to go dry. A moisturising oil or
cream can be used. It s better to use this at night, because if you go out in
the sun or commute on dust roads when the skin is wet, dust sticks to it and
oils may also give you a tan.
Feet
Give
your feet a good scrub with a sponge, pumice stone or foot scrubber that is not
made of very abrasive material when having a bath. Dry after bath between toes.
Keep toenails clipped. Those
who use shoes constantly need to slip them off now and then. This airs the
socks a bit and makes them less smelly. Wear cotton socks. Wear a clean pair
every day. Powder your 1F€ before wearing socks. Many people have sweaty feet,
and socks and shoes can get quite smelly, If possible do not wear the same pair
of shoes every day. Keep at least one more pair and use it alternatively. Go
for a pedicure once in three weeks. Give
importance to wearing comfort in the choice of fool: wear. For those who go
barefoot indoors, door mats must be cleaned or changed frequently. Extra foot care
is required for diabetics.
Menstrual Hygiene
No
woman feels completely comfortable when she has her period. If it is not pre
menstrual tension or stomach cramps, it is the problem of dealing with the
menstrual flow. Technology
offers sanitary pads, tampon!; or menstrual cups or caps to deal with the flow.
The user has to decide what suits her best. Absorbent pads may be noticeable in
some fitting clothes. They cause some soreness on the inner thighs. Whatever
the preference, washing is important. There need be no taboo about bath on
these days. Some people have the problem of odor during rnenstrua Cleanliness
and change of pad/tampon as often as is necessary reduces this problem. It is
not advisable to use perfumed pads or tampons. In fact, usil1g powder in the
genital area is not recommended.