Intensive hygiene education plus the use of hygiene products such as antibacterial soap, surface cleanser/disinfectant, and skin antiseptic significantly reduce respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin diseases among families who participated in a Hygiene Promotion and Illness Reduction study in South Africa [1,2]. The study was developed and conducted under the guidance of the Health and Hygiene Promotion Partnership (HPP), a community-based project founded in 2005 by cooperation between Reckitt Benckiser Inc and Brigham Young University with members of the participating housing communities in Cape Town. Four communities, 685 households participated: two of government (RDP) housing (indoor tap/flush toilet) and two of informal (INF) housing (communal tap/latrines). The three-year study was conducted in impoverished urban communities in South Africa and presented during the 13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID) held in Kuala Lumpur in June 2008.

1. Cole E, Hawkley M, Rubino J, McCue K, Crookston B, and Dixon J. Comprehensive family hygiene promotion in peri-urban Cape Town: Gastrointestinal and skin disease reduction in children under five. 13th ICID; Read abstract no 68.012.

2. Cole E, Crookston B, Rubino J, McCue K, Hawkley M, and Dixon J. Comprehensive family hygiene promotion in peri-urban Cape Town: Reduction of respiratory illness in children under five. 13th ICID; Read abstract no 68.030

Source : The Star Online (Malaysia), 6 Jul 2008

Tags: africa, emergencies, hygiene promotion, water-related diseases