KAP Study on Hand Hygiene to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus, among General Population during Pandemic - An Online National Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND As of 29th June 2021, 182,261,516 total cases of Covid-19 with 3,947,170 deaths have been reported worldwide from 218 countries, out of which 30,316,897 Covid19 cases and 397,668 deaths are from India.1 Maharashtra contributing 19,16,236 cases and 49,189 deaths.2 Hands are one of the main pathways of transmission of the virus. All out efforts have been made by the Governments and health agencies to increase awareness on hand hygiene among general population. However, it is felt that compliance of general population to hand hygiene is poor. So, this study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of hand hygiene to prevent the spread of corona virus, among general population during pandemic. METHODS A cross sectional study was carried out among general population aged 15 years and above through an online survey obtaining the data by a predesigned google form and analysed using Epi Info V7. RESULTS 513 individuals from 17 states of India responded. Participation was almost equal in both genders (47.6 % male and 52.4 % females). Majority of the participants (65 %) had good knowledge regarding modes of transmission. In this study, online platforms and doctors emerged to be the most common source of Covid related information. 79.14 % participants had knowledge regarding hand hygiene as an important method of prevention of Covid infection. But only 14.8 % knew the exact time to be devoted towards hand hygiene. Majority had favourable attitude and practices towards hand hygiene. 80.15 % participants from urban area told that 20 - 30 seconds as minimum time for alcohol-based sanitizer to kill most germs on hands which was found statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Majority of participants had good knowledge, favourable attitude and practices regarding hand hygiene as a mode of prevention for Covid-19 infection during this ongoing pandemic situation. Still continuous and more detailed demonstrations of hand washing as well as time to be devoted to hand washing and use of sanitizer is required to break chain of transmission and contain Covid-19 disease. KEYWORDS Covid-19, Hand Washing, Hand Rub