Mothers' hand washing practices and associated factors among model and non-model households in the rural community of Bibugn district, north west Ethiopia: The context of the Ethiopian health extension package

BACKGROUND: Hand-washing with soap is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing the global infectious disease burden, particularly diarrhea and acute respiratory infections. The World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund report shows that in twenty-eight developing countries, more than one quarter of the population had no hand washing facility at home. This study aimed to assess hand washing practice and associated factors among mothers from model and non-model households in Bibugn district, North West Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based comparative cross-sectional survey was employed. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select households. Data was collected using a structured interview questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. A descriptive analysis was presented using texts, tables, and figures. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was used to detect the potential difference between variables. RESULTS: Mothers' hand washing practice with water and soap/ash at critical times was 20.3%. Hand washing practice at critical times shows significant differences between model and non-model households. Mothers' who had knowledge 3.49 times (AOR: 3.49, 95% CI: 2.05, 5.96), access to adequate water 2.22 times (AOR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.77), and hand washing facilities 1.88 times (AOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.98) were more likely to practice hand washing than their counterparts. CONCLUSION: One fifth of mothers practice hand washing with water and soap or ash at critical times in the study area. Model households were better at hand washing practice than non-model households’. Expanding the model household program, availing hand-washing facilities, increasing water accessibility, and strengthening awareness creation were important to improving hand-washing practice.