Use of footwear and foot condition among rural Ethiopian school children

Objective: To evaluate whether shoe-wearing affords foot protection among school children living in southern Ethiopia. Methods: Data collectors conducted a standardized foot assessment with children in an elementary school in southern Ethiopia (N = 168). Results: 54% reported wearing shoes consistently in the prior three days. Children wearing closed-toed shoes showed less adherent soil and toe nail dystrophy than those wearing open-toed sandals. There were no differences by shoe type with regard to signs of foot trauma or heel fissures. Conclusions: Shoe wearing provided limited foot protection. Interventions are needed to build behavioral skills, including foot washing and wearing appropriate shoes that maximize foot protection.