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Dirty hands spread disease
08/08/2006 14:45 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Almost half the South African population underestimated the effectiveness of hand washing in preventing the spread of disease, an international hygiene survey has found.
"Forty-five percent of South Africans underestimate the effectiveness of hand washing as the easiest method to fight the spread of diseases..." a statement on the survey findings, released on Monday, read.
The finding came from the Global Hygiene Survey, conducted in South Africa, the US, the UK, Italy, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, India and Malaysia earlier this year.
At least 1 000 people in each country were surveyed.
Fifty-five percent of South Africans believed that disinfecting surfaces, avoiding close contact with others and not letting animals into the house were more effective in preventing disease than hand washing.
"These results show that simple hand-washing is still under-rated as a very effective method of disease prevention," said Prof Barry Schoub, director of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg.
The survey showed that Americans washed their hands most often on 68%, with Britons second at 57%. Only 15% of Indians washed their hands regularly to prevent the spreading of disease.
Eighteen percent of Malaysians said children were most likely to pick up germs if they visited friends and family. Only six percent of South Africans were concerned about that.
The majority of South Africans surveyed - 65% - said most germs lurked in the toilet bowl. Only 19% of Americans and 30% of Germans held that opinion.
The survey results were released to mark the formation of the Global Hygiene Council. Nine medical experts in the fields of virology, microbiology and infectious diseases would serve on this council.
"The council's primary aim is to advise the public that good hygiene is the best weapon against the spread of killer infections like dysentery, as well as everyday illnesses like food poisoning."
- SAPA
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