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Review
. 2011 Apr;11(4):312-21.
doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(10)70224-3.

Hygiene: new hopes, new horizons

Val Curtis  1 , Wolf Schmidt, Stephen Luby, Rocio Florez, Ousmane Touré, Adam Biran
Affiliations
Review

Hygiene: new hopes, new horizons

Val Curtis et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011 Apr.

Abstract

Although promotion of safe hygiene is the single most cost-effective means of preventing infectious disease, investment in hygiene is low both in the health and in the water and sanitation sectors. Evidence shows the benefit of improved hygiene, especially for improved handwashing and safe stool disposal. A growing understanding of what drives hygiene behaviour and creative partnerships are providing fresh approaches to change behaviour. However, some important gaps in our knowledge exist. For example, almost no trials of the effectiveness of interventions to improve food hygiene in developing countries are available. We also need to figure out how best to make safe hygiene practices matters of daily routine that are sustained by social norms on a mass scale. Full and active involvement of the health sector in getting safe hygiene to all homes, schools, and institutions will bring major gains to public health.

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Figures

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Hypotheses about the most effective ways of changing handwashing behaviour
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Comment in

  • Why doesn't hand hygiene work better?
    Sepkowitz KA. Sepkowitz KA. Lancet Infect Dis. 2012 Feb;12(2):96-7. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70349-8. Lancet Infect Dis. 2012. PMID: 22281133 No abstract available.

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