A Comparative Study on Water, Sanitation and Hygienic Practices of Elderly People in a Selected Old Home and Community, Gazipur, Bangladesh

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue II, February 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

A Comparative Study on Water, Sanitation and Hygienic Practices of Elderly People in a Selected Old Home and Community, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Md. Abdul Bashet, Md. Sajib Rana, Md.Estiar Rahman, Prof. Dr. Md. Ruhul Furkan Siddique

Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Abstract
Background: The number of elderly people has been increasing worldwide and Bangladesh is not immune to this demographic reality. Adequate safe water and basic sanitation are precursor for personal hygiene and good health among elderly people. This study was carried out to determine the water, sanitation and hygienic practices of elderly people from a selected old home and nearest community, Gazipur, Bangladesh.
Methods: The study was descriptive type of cross sectional study. Data were collected from 133 elderly people from a selected old home (n=68) and nearest community (n=65) using purposive sampling technique, conducted from November 2017 to April, 2018. A closed ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0.
Results: Mean age for old home and community elderly was 70.97(±6.67) and 67.86(±5.88) respectively. Sanitation and Hygiene knowledge found that old home elderly had better knowledge. Age and education were associated with it. There was significant difference regarding water sources(X²=52.83, p<.001), water treatment(X²=4.31, p=.038), washing hand after defecation (X² =38.69, p=.000), using shoes before going to toilet (X² =6.385, p=.041), bath (X²=7.78, p=.005), brush(X² =4.46, p=.035) washing cloth (X²=3.91, p=.048) between old home and community elderly people.
Conclusion: Water, sanitation and hygiene practices for old home elderly was better than community elderly. Easily accessible and uninterrupted safe water supply, in house or attached sanitation facility, filtration by available, scientifically sound method need to be provided.

Key words: Elderly people, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Old home

I. BACKGROUND

Access to safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene are pre-condition for elderly people to achieve good health, well-being and even benefit from economic development[1,2].Elderly people are very respectable and honorable.

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