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Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Perception, and Practices among Domestic Visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah City Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Hashim A. Mahdi

    (National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
    Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Jeddah 23442, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hamza M. Assaggaf

    (Department of Environmental and Health Research, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia
    The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research Al-Madinah Branch, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Madinah 42372, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammad Alfelali

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia)

  • Omar B. Ahmed

    (Department of Environmental and Health Research, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia
    The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research Al-Madinah Branch, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Madinah 42372, Saudi Arabia)

  • Radi Alsafi

    (Department of Environmental and Health Research, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia
    The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research Al-Madinah Branch, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Madinah 42372, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ramon Z. Shaban

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery & Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    New South Wales Biocontainment Centre and the Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Division of Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health, Westmead Hospital and Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW 2151, Australia)

  • Robert Booy

    (National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
    Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia)

  • Harunor Rashid

    (National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
    Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practices of visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. Using a self-administered electronic questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among domestic residents, who visited the mosque between 31 July and 3 August 2020. Participants’ demographic data, hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practices were collected. Four hundred participants aged 18–65 (median 36) years completed the survey, of which 215 (53.8%) were female. The visitors’ mean knowledge score about hand hygiene was 6.4 (± standard deviation (SD) 1.35) of total 12. Most participants (392, 98%) were aware of the role of hand hygiene in preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); nevertheless, 384 (96%) said hand hygiene lowers body immunity and 316 (79%) thought <60% alcohol is sufficient for hand disinfection. Males had a higher knowledge score than females (6.46 (±1.41) vs. 6.14 (±1.27), p = 0.02) and, visitors who had no formal education scored higher than those with post-graduate education (6.88 (±1.45) vs 5.73 (±1.12), p = 0.01). Washing hands with soap and water was the predominant method practiced after a meal (365, 91.7%), after toilet visit (354, 88.5%), after touching a surface (262, 65.7%), after waste disposal (332, 83.2%), and when hands were visibly dirty (357, 89.5%). Al Madinah visitors had moderate knowledge about hand hygiene, but demonstrated some knowledge gaps and negligence in practice that are crucial to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Hashim A. Mahdi & Hamza M. Assaggaf & Mohammad Alfelali & Omar B. Ahmed & Radi Alsafi & Ramon Z. Shaban & Robert Booy & Harunor Rashid, 2021. "Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Perception, and Practices among Domestic Visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah City Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:673-:d:480444
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mansour Tobaiqy & Ahmed H. Alhasan & Manal M. Shams & Samar A. Amer & Katie MacLure & Mohammed F. Alcattan & Sami S. Almudarra, 2020. "Assessment of Preventative Measures Practice among Umrah Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, 1440H-2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-15, December.
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