Table 4 Self-reported hand cleaning and hand drying practice by gender (n = 815)
Total (n = 815) | Male (n = 245) | Female (n = 570) | Test statistics & p-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%)※ | n (%)※ | n (%)※ | |||
Hand cleaning | |||||
1. | Before handling food or cooking | ||||
 No | 14 (1.7) | 7 (2.9%) | 7 (1.2) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 357 (44.1) | 145(59.9%) | 212 (37.3) | ||
 Water and soap | 433 (53.5) | 88 (36.4) | 345 (60.7) | ||
 ABHR | 4 (0.5) | 1 (0.4) | 3 (0.5) | ||
 Wet wipes | 2 (0.2) | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.2) | ||
 Not applicable | 5 | 3 | 2 | ||
2. | After handling food or cooking | ||||
 No | 16 (2.0) | 8 (3.3) | 8 (1.4) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 242 (30.0) | 104 (43.5) | 138 (24.3) | ||
 Water and soap | 547 (67.9) | 126 (52.7) | 421 (74.3) | ||
 ABHR | 1 (0.1) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | ||
 Not applicable | 9 | 6 | 3 | ||
3. | Before eating | ||||
 No | 78 (9.6) | 30 (12.2) | 48 (8.4) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 330 (40.5) | 127 (51.8) | 203 (35.6) | ||
 Water and soap | 380 (46.6) | 83 (33.9) | 297 (52.1) | ||
 ABHR | 10 (1.2) | 2 (0.8) | 8 (1.4) | ||
 Wet wipes | 17 (2.1) | 3 (1.2) | 14 (2.5) | ||
4. | After urination | ||||
 No | 2 (0.2) | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.2) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 431 (52.9) | 171 (69.8) | 260 (45.6) | ||
 Water and soap | 382 (46.9) | 73 (29.8) | 309 (54.2) | ||
5. | After defaecation | ||||
 No | 1 (0.1) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0.001 | |
 Water only | 129 (15.8) | 54 (22.0) | 75 (13.2) | ||
 Water and soap | 683 (83.8) | 189 (77.1) | 494 (86.7) | ||
 ABHR | 2 (0.2) | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.2) | ||
6. | After feeding a child | ||||
 No | 30 (5.2) | 12 (8.0) | 18 (4.2) | 0.009 | |
 Water only | 253 (43.5) | 72 (48.0) | 181 (41.9) | ||
 Water and soap | 288 (49.5) | 60 (40.0) | 228 (52.8) | ||
 ABHR | 4 (0.7) | 2 (1.3) | 2 (0.5) | ||
 Wet wipes | 7 (1.2) | 4 (2.7) | 3 (0.7) | ||
 Not applicable | 233 | 95 | 138 | ||
7. | After caring for a sick person | ||||
 No | 6 (0.9) | 3 (1.5) | 3 (0.6) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 70 (10.0) | 44 (21.8) | 70 (10.0) | ||
 Water and soap | 497 (10.9) | 120 (59.4) | 497 (70.9) | ||
 ABHR | 127 (18.1) | 35 (17.3) | 127 (18.1) | ||
 Wet wipes | 1 (0.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.1) | ||
 Not applicable | 114 | 43 | 71 | ||
8. | After daily work | ||||
 No | 90 (11.5) | 32 (13.9) | 58 (10.5) | 0.219★ | |
 Water only | 248 (31.8) | 98 (42.6) | 150 (27.2) | ||
 Water and soap | 410 (52.5) | 96 (41.7) | 314 (57.0) | ||
 ABHR | 27 (3.5) | 3 (1.3) | 24 (4.4) | ||
 Wet wipes | 6 (0.8) | 1 (0.4) | 5 (0.9) | ||
 Not applicable | 34 | 15 | 19 | ||
9. | When your hands are visibly dirty | ||||
 No | 3 (0.4) | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.2) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 22 (2.7) | 10 (4.1) | 12 (2.1) | ||
 Water and soap | 79 (95.6) | 231 (94.3) | 548 (96.1) | ||
 ABHR | 6 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (1.1) | ||
 Wet wipes | 5 (0.6) | 2 (0.8) | 3 (0.5) | ||
10. | After sneezing or coughing | ||||
 No | 143 (17.5) | 58 (23.7) | 85 (14.9) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 215 (26.4) | 90 (36.7) | 125 (21.9) | ||
 Water and soap | 330 (40.5) | 79 (32.2) | 251 (44.0) | ||
 ABHR | 58 (7.1) | 7 (2.9) | 51 (8.9) | ||
 Wet wipes | 69 (8.5) | 11 (4.5) | 58 (10.2) | ||
11. | After touching livestock(s) | ||||
 No | 4 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (1.1) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 39 (7.6) | 19 (12.8) | 20 (5.5) | ||
 Water and soap | 421 (82.2) | 116 (78.4) | 305 (83.8) | ||
 ABHR | 43 (8.4) | 10 (6.8) | 33 (9.1) | ||
 Wet wipes | 5 (1.0) | 3 (2.0) | 2 (0.5) | ||
 Not applicable | 303 | 97 | 206 | ||
12. | After touching animal(s) waste | ||||
 No | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0.513 | |
 Water only | 15 (2.7) | 6 (3.7) | 9 (2.3) | ||
 Water and soap | 498 (89.1) | 141 (87.0) | 357 (89.9) | ||
 ABHR | 44 (7.9) | 15 (9.3) | 29 (7.3) | ||
 Wet wipes | 2 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) | ||
 Not applicable | 256 | 83 | 173 | ||
13. | After disposal of garbage bag | ||||
 No | 24 (2.9) | 10 (4.1) | 14 (2.5) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 204 (25.0) | 100 (40.8) | 104 (18.2) | ||
 Water and soap | 570 (69.9) | 131 (53.5) | 439 (77.0) | ||
 ABHR | 15 (1.8) | 4 (1.6) | 11 (1.9) | ||
 Wet wipes | 2 (0..2) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.4) | ||
14. | After gardening | ||||
 No | 6 (1.0) | 2 (1.3) | 4 (0.9) | 0.000 | |
 Water only | 165 (28.2) | 69 (43.1) | 96 (22.5) | ||
 Water and soap | 411 (70.1) | 89 (55.6) | 322 (75.6) | ||
 ABHR | 4 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (0.9) | ||
 Not applicable | 229 | 85 | 144 | ||
15. | Would you perform hand hygiene more often during infectious disease outbreaks? | ||||
 No | 196 (24.0) | 61 (24.9) | 135 (23.7) | 0.721★ | |
 Yes | 619 (76.0) | 184 (75.1) | 435 (76.3) | ||
16. | How much time do you usually lather your hands with soap before rinsing? | ||||
 Less than 5 s | 133 (16.3) | 54 (22.0) | 79 (13.9) | 0.003★** | |
 5–10 s | 476 (58.4) | 142 (58.0) | 334 (58.6) | ||
 11–19 s | 102 (12.5) | 30 (12.2) | 72 (12.6) | ||
 20 s or more | 104 (12.8) | 19 (7.8) | 85 (14.9) | ||
17. | Use a paper towel that you have used to dry your hands to turn off the faucet | ||||
 Always | 165(20.2) | 41 (16.7) | 124 (21.8) | 0.003★** | |
 Sometimes | 289 (35.5) | 73 (29.8) | 216 (37.9) | ||
 Never | 361 (44.3) | 131 (53.5) | 230 (40.4) | ||
17. | Use a new paper towel to turn off the faucet | ||||
 Always | 46 (5.6) | 21 (8.6) | 25 (4.4) | 0.039★* | |
 Sometimes | 146 (18.0) | 38 (15.5) | 108 (18.9) | ||
 Never | 623 (76.4) | 186 (75.9) | 437 (76.7) | ||
18. | Use water to splash the faucet before turning it off | ||||
 Always | 175 (21.5) | 35 (14.3) | 140 (24.6) | 0.000★*** | |
 Sometimes | 346 (42.5) | 91 (37.1) | 255 (44.7) | ||
 Never | 294 (36.0) | 119 (48.6) | 175 (30.7) | ||
19. | Ignore handwashing if in a hurry | ||||
 Always/Sometimes | 86 (10.6) | 40 (16.3) | 46 (8.1) | 0.001★** | |
 Never | 729 (89.4) | 205 (83.7) | 524 (91.9) | ||
20. | Ignore handwashing when nobody in the washroom | ||||
 Always/Sometimes | 49 (6.0) | 22 (9.0) | 27 (4.7) | 0.024★* | |
 Never | 766 (94.0) | 233 (91.0) | 543 (95.3) | ||
21. | Ignore handwashing if I have only urinated | ||||
 Always/Sometimes | 96 (11.8) | 49 (20.0) | 47 (8.2) | 0.000★*** | |
 Never | 719 (88.2) | 196 (80.0) | 523 (91.8) | ||
Hand drying | |||||
22. | Rub hands on own clothing | ||||
 Always | 52 (6.4) | 25 (10.2) | 27 (4.7) | 0.005★** | |
 Sometimes | 277 (34.0) | 89 (36.3) | 188 (33.0) | ||
 Never | 486 (59.6) | 131 (53.5) | 355 (62.3) | ||
23. | Air evaporation | ||||
 Always | 146 (17.9) | 64 (26.1) | 82 (14.4) | 0.000★*** | |
 Sometimes | 420 (51.5) | 101 (41.2) | 319 (56.0) | ||
 Never | 249 (30.6) | 80 (32.7) | 169 (29.6) | ||
24. | Use personal towel or handkerchief | ||||
 Always | 92 (11.3) | 28 (11.4%) | 64(11.2%) | 0.242★ | |
 Sometimes | 218 (26.7) | 56 (22.9%) | 162 (28.4%) | ||
 Never | 505 (62.0) | 161 (65.7%) | 344 (60.4%) | ||
25. | Use own disposable tissue | ||||
 Always | 320 (39.3%) | 82 (33.5) | 238 (41.8) | 0.009★** | |
 Sometimes | 360 (44.2%) | 109 (44.5) | 251 (44.0) | ||
 Never | 135 (16.6%) | 54 (22.0) | 81 (14.2) | ||
26. | Paper towels supplied by the washroom | ||||
 Always | 592 (72.6) | 172 (70.2) | 420 (73.7) | 0.590★ | |
 Sometimes | 194 (23.8) | 64 (26.1) | 130 (22.8) | ||
 Never | 29 (3.6) | 9 (3.7) | 20 (3.5) | ||
27. | Warm hand dryer | ||||
 Always | 165 (20.2) | 52 (21.2) | 113 (19.8) | 0.691★ | |
 Sometimes | 517 (63.4) | 157 (64.1) | 360 (63.2) | ||
 Never | 133 (16.3) | 36 (14.7) | 97 (17.0) | ||
28. | Jet hand dryer | ||||
 Always | 152 (18.7) | 48 (19.6) | 104 (18.2) | 0.544★ | |
 Sometimes | 487 (59.8) | 150 (61.2) | 337 (59.1) | ||
 Never | 176 (21.6) | 47 (19.2) | 129 (22.6) | ||
29. | Cloth towel rolls | ||||
 Always | 17 (2.1) | 5 (2.0) | 12 (2.1) | 0.282★ | |
 Sometimes | 106 (13.0) | 39 (15.9) | 67 (11.8) | ||
Never | 692 (84.9) | 201 (82.0) | 491 (86.1) | ||
30. | How many paper towels do you commonly used | ||||
 One | 365 (45.4) | 106 (44.0) | 259 (46.0) | 0.324★ | |
 Two | 370 (46.0) | 115 (47.7) | 255 (45.3) | ||
 Three | 57 (7.1) | 14 (5.8) | 43 (7.6) | ||
 Four or more | 12 (1.5) | 6 (2.5) | 6 (1.1) | ||
 Not applicable | 11 | 4 | 7 | ||
31. | If warm hand dryer is used, how do you usually position your hands? | ||||
 Rubbing the hands during drying | 378 (51.1) | 126 (56.8) | 252 (48.6) | 0.045★* | |
 Hold the hands stationary during drying | 362 (48.9) | 96 (43.2) | 266 (51.4) | ||
 Not applicable | 75 | 23 | 52 | ||
32. | Average time for using warm hand dryer (in seconds) | ||||
 Less than 5 s | 56 (7.6) | 22 (10.0) | 34 (6.6) | 0.188 | |
 5–10 s | 391 (53.3) | 104 (47.0) | 287 (56.0) | ||
 11–20 s | 219 (29.9) | 72 (32.6) | 147 (28.7) | ||
 21–30 s | 46 (6.3) | 14 (6.3) | 32 (6.3) | ||
 31–40 s | 14 (1.9) | 6 (2.7) | 8 (1.6) | ||
 41 s or more | 7 (1.0) | 3 (1.4) | 4 (0.8) | ||
 Not applicable | 82 | 24 | 58 | ||
33. | Average time for using jet hand dryer (in seconds) | ||||
 Less than 5 s | 75 (11.1) | 24 (11.4) | 51 (11.0) | 0.692 | |
 5–10 s | 357 (52.9) | 105 (49.8) | 252 (54.4) | ||
 11–20 s | 188 (27.9) | 65 (30.8) | 123 (26.5) | ||
 21–30 s | 32 (4.7) | 10 (4.7) | 22 (4.7) | ||
 31–40 s | 17 (2.5) | 4 (1.9) | 13 (2.8) | ||
 41 s or more | 6 (0.9) | 3 (1.4) | 3 (0.6) | ||
 Not applicable | 140 | 34 | 106 | ||
34. | Shaking my hands to get rid of excess water before drying | ||||
 Always | 427 (52.4) | 147 (60.0) | 280 (49.1) | 0.003★** | |
 Sometimes | 289 (35.5) | 80 (32.7) | 209 (36.7) | ||
 Never | 99 (12.1) | 18 (7.3) | 81 (14.2) | ||
***
***
***
***
***
**
***
***
***
***
***
***
- Abbreviation: ABHR Alcohol based hand rub
Fisher’s exact test- ★ Chi-square test
- *Statistically significant at p < 0.05
- **Statistically significant at p < 0.01
- ***Statistically significant at p < 0.001
- ※ Not applicable cases were excluded from percentage calculation and the analyses
Fisher’s exact test