International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Volume 8 Issue 4
July-August 2026

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Personal hygiene practices among school children residing in urban slums: A cross-sectional study

Author(s) Dr. Shivappa R Handigund
Country India
Abstract Personal hygiene is a major factor in children’s health and an important tool in the prevention of communicable diseases, especially in urban slum communities where poor sanitation and overcrowding create health risks. The present community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken to analyses the personal hygiene habits among 210 schoolchildren aged 11-16 living in selected urban slums and to find the socio-demographic correlates of personal hygiene practices. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire on hygiene behaviors and socio-demographic variables, followed by a physical examination. Data were analyses by SPSS version 26.0. Associations between variables were determined by chi-square testing. The results demonstrated that most participants had satisfactory hygiene behaviors such as handwashing after toilet use (74.3%), daily bathing (70.5%), regular hair washing (66.7%), nail clipping (65.2%) and consistent usage of footwear outdoors (80.5%). However, relatively lesser adherence was reported for handwashing with soap before meals (56.2%), brushing teeth twice daily (59.0%), wearing clean socks (45.2%), and using a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing (52.9%). Overall hygiene behaviors were substantially associated with parental education and children’s age (p < 0.05), while gender was not significantly connected to hygiene behaviors. The study shows the positive role of parents’ education on children’s cleanliness behaviors and stresses the need to expand school-based health education, improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and promote active parental participation. These treatments have the potential to increase healthy behaviors, avoidable illnesses, and general well-being of children living in underserved urban neighborhoods.
Keywords Keywords: Personal Hygiene, School Children, Urban Slum Communities, Hygiene Practices, Socio-demographic Factors
Field Sociology
Published In Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On 2026-08-05
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.85178
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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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