- Yamerot Ashagre
- Spring 2026
Abstract
Public health and prevention of infectious disease transmission start with hand hygiene education and training. Unsatisfactory hand hygiene education and training among high school students leads to higher response rates to school absenteeism and increased spread of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. This practicum project focuses on high school education and training on handwashing through interactive, engaging, and youth-driven methods.
Some methods examined include PowerPoint presentations, classroom demonstrations, and pre- and post-surveys to measure handwashing behavior. Evidence-based methods, such as colorful infographics and handwashing guidance via music, were used to increase student engagement.
The results of this study show and confirm that fun and interactive methods in education increase knowledge of and improve hand hygiene and thus promote a healthier school community. This study confirms the impact and importance of educational interventions to promote handwashing among adolescents and offers a blueprint for similar health promotion projects at schools.
Keywords: Hand hygiene, infection prevention, school health, interactive education, infographics, surveys, behavior change, disease prevention, adolescent health.
