Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Hand Hygiene and Nutrition Training for Semi-Urban and Rural Primary School Students in Haliliye District of Şanliurfa

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition and hand hygiene training for third-grade students in 12 primary schools in Şanlıurfa. Method: This is an intervention study. It was conducted between the dates of December 2018 and May 2019. The population of the study consisted of 10165 third-grade students in 113 schools located in Şanlıurfa. The study sample consisted of 1206 students attending 12 primary schools. Results: The mean score of the control group was 6.2 ± 2.1, while the mean score of the intervention group was 10.4 ± 1.8 in hand hygiene training; and the mean score of the control group was 2.9 ± 0.6, while the mean score of the intervention group was 3.3 ± 0.4 in nutrition training. There was a significant increase in the intervention groups in both training modules (p < 0.05). The control and intervention group scores were 6.3 ± 2.1 and 10.6 ± 1.8 in the semi-urban area, and 5.8 ± 2.0 and 10.1 ± 1.7 in the rural area in hygiene training. The control and intervention group scores were 2.9 ± 0.6 and 3.4 ± 0.6 in the semi-urban area,and 2.9 ± 0.6 and 3.4 ± 0.7 in the rural area in nutrition training. The increase in the intervention group between the areas was found to be significant in both trainings (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Hand hygiene and healthy nutrition trainings increased the knowledge and skills of the students. It is thought that the trainings are successful thanks to the content of the given training subjects compatible with the age of the students, the active participation of the students in the trainings, and the fact that the trainings were given by expert health professionals. The cooperation of school and health institution should be ensured for successful health training.