Impact of toilet hygiene training program: results from 11-to 16-year-old secondary school Turkish children

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of toilet hygiene education in secondary school students. The study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and includes a control group. The study was conducted at a secondary school in Istanbul, Turkey with 100 students (50 students for experiment and 50 students for control). The experiment and control groups were in the same school population. Data were collected with the student information form and toilet hygiene evaluation form (THEF), which were developed by the researchers. When we examined the toilet hygiene techniques used by the students, they indicated 58 % (n = 58) wiped perinea from front to back, 25 % (n = 25) back to front and 17 % (n = 17) randomly. It was found that 69 % (n = 69) of the students changed their underwear every 2-3 days; 80 % (n = 80) were trained by parents on toilet hygiene. Total THEF scores, which were obtained pre and post (shortly after) education, showed significant differences in the experiment group (p = 0.000). Total THEF scores obtained post education (shortly after and 1 month later) showed significant differences in the experiment group (p = 0.009). The toilet hygiene education program is found to be successful in secondary school students.