EFFECT OF HANDWASHING ON THE INCIDENCE OF DIARRHOEA IN A CALCUTTA SLUM

A prospective community based study was conducted to evaluate the effect of handwashing on the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases in Calcutta slums. Handwashing was implemented in one slum and the other nearby slum, without handwashing programme, served as control. The difference in the incidence of w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of diarrhoeal diseases research 1987-06, Vol.5 (2), p.112-114
Main Authors: SIRCAR, B.K., SENGUPTA, P.G., MONDAL, S.K., GUPTA, D.N., SAHA, N.C., GHOSH, S., DEB, B.C., PAL, S.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacillary dysentery
Control groups
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - prevention & control
Disease incidence rates
Dysentery
Dysentery - prevention & control
Epidemiology
Hand Disinfection
Humans
India
Infections
Population
Poverty
Poverty Areas
Prospective Studies
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Slums
Soaps
Washing
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Summary:A prospective community based study was conducted to evaluate the effect of handwashing on the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases in Calcutta slums. Handwashing was implemented in one slum and the other nearby slum, without handwashing programme, served as control. The difference in the incidence of watery diarrhoea during the thirteen-month period, between the study and control groups was not significantly different. However, the incidence of dysentery in individuals above 5 years of age in the control group was significantly higher as compared to those in the study group (p < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that handwashing with soap may reduce the indicence of dysenteric cases in the community by interruption of transmission of the pathogens from one person to the other.
ISSN:0253-8768
2311-8512