CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Hand washing is one of the most important aspects of preventing diseases in our country Nigeria; thousand of lives have been lost as a result of diseases caused by in adequate washing of hands. Hand washing or hygiene is the act of cleaning hand with the use of water and soap or other liquid for the purpose of removing soil, dust and or micro-organisms (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) (CDC) (2013).
CDC (2013) states that hand washing are the act of washing hand with plane soap or detergent containing and antiseptic.
World Health Organization (WHO) (2013), Hand washing is the act of reducing or inhibiting the growth of micro-organism by the application of an antiseptic hand drop or by performing an antiseptic hand washing.
WHO also define hand washing as an act of performing hand hygiene for the purpose of physically or mechanically removing dust, organic materials and micro-organisms.
Hand washing is the first and foremost way of preventing disease which is said to remove or inhibit the growth of micro-organisms as indicated on WHO (2002), hand washing often act of vectors that carry disease causing pathogenic from person to person either through direct contact or indirect contact via surface. Humans can spread bacteria by touching other people’s hands, hair, nose and face. Hand that have been in contact with human faces, bodily fluids like nasal excretion and contaminated food or water can transport bacteria, virus and parasite to unveiling host. Hand washing with soap works by interpreting the transmission of diseases. Washing hand with water alone is significantly less than washing hands with soap in terms of removing germs. Using soap also means additional time consume during the massaging, rabbis and friction to dislodge them from fingers – tips and between the fingers. In comparing just using water for hand washing, Effective hand washing with soap takes 8 – 15 seconds followed by through rising with running water. According to CDC (2013), your hands are your primary ways of physical interaction with the world around you. As you touch things you pick up germs with hand and touch your face. You may inertly introduce disease causing germs into your body. Hand washing is a simple and effective way to prevent catching or spreading many communicable diseases which include, common cold, food poisoning, respiratory illness and diarrhoea and vomiting etc.
CDC (2013) further indicated that hand washing is one of the best way to prevent the spread of infection and illness in all. Settings and work places to child’s are facilities and Hospitals. Clean hand can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout the community.