Knowledge and Practice of Hand Hygiene at the Beginning and One Year after the Covid-19 Pandemic in Argentina

ABSTRACT

Objective: to analyze the knowledge, hand hygiene practice and other hygiene health measures used by people, at the beginning of and a year after COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. Material and methods: descriptive, observational and cross sectional study. An online survey was carried out of adult population, during two periods May 2020 and May 2021. Results: 2507 surveys were analyzed. Only 24.7% (first period) and 23.8% (second pe- riod), kept to the time suggested for effective hand washing. In both periods, more than 50% respondents sometimes/never wash their hands after blowing their noses, touching objects or their faces. There is an association between correct hand washing and age and correct hand washing and being or not a member of the health team, in both periods. Conclusion: people do wash their hands;however, they do not respect recommended time and frequency.