Basic hygiene ignored, says survey
India comes only second to Malaysia in a survey of unsafe hygiene practices, a new study conducted by the Global Hygiene Council, reveals.
The study, supported by Dettol, brings out startling results on the beliefs of consumers on the risk of infections in the safe haven of their home versus the reality of high level of germ presence on many frequently touched surfaces in the home.
The study also reveals the poor levels of hand washing habits among Indians.
Only 10 per cent Indians believe that you can catch an infection at home. But according to the results of a new In-home Swabbing Study - in which the actual level of germ contamination across different surfaces in across different homes in India was measured - the reality is different. 78 per cent of the surfaces tested in the home were found to be unsatisfactory in the level of bacterial contamination.
Leading among these was the kitchen cloth where 100 per cent of homes had kitchen cloths heavily contaminated with illness causing germs. In 90 per cent of homes the kitchen cooking surface, 83 per cent the kitchen sink and 85 per cent of the kitchen taps, had a high level of bacteria, even 79 per cent of the fridges surveyed.
The results are worrying, especially given that while people feel the highest risk of infection is from the toilet area, kitchen surfaces are not seen as threat - only 6 per cent feel the kitchen tap could be a source of germ pick up.
Indian homes compared poorly with other countries, Malaysia being the only other country where there is an equally high level of bacterial contamination on in-home surfaces.
Forty five per cent of Indian bathroom taps were found to be heavily contaminated with germs. In the United States, this figure was a low 5 per cent, while in United Kingdom, it was 10 per cent.
Seventy five per cent of kitchen taps in India were heavily contaminated. Only Malaysia had a worse performance (at 95 per cent), while South Africa had only 10 per cent of its taps heavily contaminated.
Worldwide, 78 per cent of kitchen cloths were found to be heavily contaminated. While 100 per cent of kitchen cloths in India and Malaysia were found to be heavily contaminated, even in countries like UK – 90 per cent of the kitchen cloth was heavily contaminated, and in Saudi Arabia 80 per cent.
Globally, toys came out as relatively the most hygienic item (only 9 per cent heavily contaminated); in India this figures stands at 37 per cent.
It has been validated through many studies that proper hand washing is the simplest way of reducing the risk of catching an infection. It is estimated that the risk of diarhhoea can be reduced by half, while the risk of respiratory illnesses like cough; cold can be reduced at least by 16 per cent.
However, the survey among the general public, shows a lack of awareness on the importance of handwashing. A startling 18 per cent of people do not wash their hands before eating or handling food. And even among those who handwash, a good 1 in 10 wash their hands only with water.
Given that 50 per cent of Indians do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, there is a very high chance one picks up germs from the next person one meets. Combined with the high incidence of bacterial contamination in home, poor handwashing habits mean that chances of getting infected even at home are quite high.
On the basis of the results of the survey and the In-Home Swabbing Study, the Global Hygiene Council recommends:
1. Make it a habit to washing hands regularly, especially each time before eating/handling food
2. Disinfect commonly touched surfaces in the home
3. Take extra care in the kitchen when handling food to prevent cross contamination.
Presenting the results of the survey and releasing a book on practical recommendations to improve hygiene standards, in Chennai, Chander Mohan Sethi, chairman and managing director of Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd, said, “The results of the studies conducted bring out the reality of hygiene standards amongst people from across socio-economic strata. The majority of the public is not aware of the importance of simple hygiene practices like hand washing. Not only this, they are absolutely oblivious to the manner in which germs can get transferred through various surfaces even in the home. Clearly the public needs to be made aware of good hygiene habits that can reduce the risk of illness in the family.”
He further added, “Through our ongoing consumer touch program Dettol Surakshit Parivar we are committed to reaching out to the public and spreading this message. This year, under the program, other than the metros, we are including the next level of towns too.”
Also present at the Press conference were Dr.L.V.K. Moorthy, president, Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu state and Dr. T.N. Ravishankar, General Secretary, IMA , Tamilnadu State.
Commenting on the findings and the recommendations, Dr Murthy said, “Poor hygiene practice is one of the prime issues of continued spread of infectious illnesses. We at IMA are committed to promoting good hygiene practices in India & support Dettol in its efforts to heighten the awareness of good hygiene habits in the country.”
Indian homes compared quite poorly with other countries, Malaysia being the only other country where there is an equally high level of bacterial contamination on in-home surfaces :
The hand-washing habits of Indian may not be up to scratch, but Canadians have the cleanest hands, the survey shows.
The survey - which also covers South Africa, Malaysia, Italy, Great Britian, Australia and United States - revealed some interesting nuggets on people’s perceptions. The questions, on measures to prevent flu and washing hands, were posed to 1000 respondents.
India comes only second to Malaysia in a survey of unsafe hygiene practices, a new study conducted by the Global Hygiene Council, reveals.
The study, supported by Dettol, brings out startling results on the beliefs of consumers on the risk of infections in the safe haven of their home versus the...
India comes only second to Malaysia in a survey of unsafe hygiene practices, a new study conducted by the Global Hygiene Council, reveals.
The study, supported by Dettol, brings out startling results on the beliefs of consumers on the risk of infections in the safe haven of their home versus the reality of high level of germ presence on many frequently touched surfaces in the home.
The study also reveals the poor levels of hand washing habits among Indians.
Only 10 per cent Indians believe that you can catch an infection at home. But according to the results of a new In-home Swabbing Study - in which the actual level of germ contamination across different surfaces in across different homes in India was measured - the reality is different. 78 per cent of the surfaces tested in the home were found to be unsatisfactory in the level of bacterial contamination.
Leading among these was the kitchen cloth where 100 per cent of homes had kitchen cloths heavily contaminated with illness causing germs. In 90 per cent of homes the kitchen cooking surface, 83 per cent the kitchen sink and 85 per cent of the kitchen taps, had a high level of bacteria, even 79 per cent of the fridges surveyed.
The results are worrying, especially given that while people feel the highest risk of infection is from the toilet area, kitchen surfaces are not seen as threat - only 6 per cent feel the kitchen tap could be a source of germ pick up.
Indian homes compared poorly with other countries, Malaysia being the only other country where there is an equally high level of bacterial contamination on in-home surfaces.
Forty five per cent of Indian bathroom taps were found to be heavily contaminated with germs. In the United States, this figure was a low 5 per cent, while in United Kingdom, it was 10 per cent.
Seventy five per cent of kitchen taps in India were heavily contaminated. Only Malaysia had a worse performance (at 95 per cent), while South Africa had only 10 per cent of its taps heavily contaminated.
Worldwide, 78 per cent of kitchen cloths were found to be heavily contaminated. While 100 per cent of kitchen cloths in India and Malaysia were found to be heavily contaminated, even in countries like UK – 90 per cent of the kitchen cloth was heavily contaminated, and in Saudi Arabia 80 per cent.
Globally, toys came out as relatively the most hygienic item (only 9 per cent heavily contaminated); in India this figures stands at 37 per cent.
It has been validated through many studies that proper hand washing is the simplest way of reducing the risk of catching an infection. It is estimated that the risk of diarhhoea can be reduced by half, while the risk of respiratory illnesses like cough; cold can be reduced at least by 16 per cent.
However, the survey among the general public, shows a lack of awareness on the importance of handwashing. A startling 18 per cent of people do not wash their hands before eating or handling food. And even among those who handwash, a good 1 in 10 wash their hands only with water.
Given that 50 per cent of Indians do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, there is a very high chance one picks up germs from the next person one meets. Combined with the high incidence of bacterial contamination in home, poor handwashing habits mean that chances of getting infected even at home are quite high.
On the basis of the results of the survey and the In-Home Swabbing Study, the Global Hygiene Council recommends:
1. Make it a habit to washing hands regularly, especially each time before eating/handling food
2. Disinfect commonly touched surfaces in the home
3. Take extra care in the kitchen when handling food to prevent cross contamination.
Presenting the results of the survey and releasing a book on practical recommendations to improve hygiene standards, in Chennai, Chander Mohan Sethi, chairman and managing director of Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd, said, “The results of the studies conducted bring out the reality of hygiene standards amongst people from across socio-economic strata. The majority of the public is not aware of the importance of simple hygiene practices like hand washing. Not only this, they are absolutely oblivious to the manner in which germs can get transferred through various surfaces even in the home. Clearly the public needs to be made aware of good hygiene habits that can reduce the risk of illness in the family.”
He further added, “Through our ongoing consumer touch program Dettol Surakshit Parivar we are committed to reaching out to the public and spreading this message. This year, under the program, other than the metros, we are including the next level of towns too.”
Also present at the Press conference were Dr.L.V.K. Moorthy, president, Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu state and Dr. T.N. Ravishankar, General Secretary, IMA , Tamilnadu State.
Commenting on the findings and the recommendations, Dr Murthy said, “Poor hygiene practice is one of the prime issues of continued spread of infectious illnesses. We at IMA are committed to promoting good hygiene practices in India & support Dettol in its efforts to heighten the awareness of good hygiene habits in the country.”
Indian homes compared quite poorly with other countries, Malaysia being the only other country where there is an equally high level of bacterial contamination on in-home surfaces :
The hand-washing habits of Indian may not be up to scratch, but Canadians have the cleanest hands, the survey shows.
The survey - which also covers South Africa, Malaysia, Italy, Great Britian, Australia and United States - revealed some interesting nuggets on people’s perceptions. The questions, on measures to prevent flu and washing hands, were posed to 1000 respondents.
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