Impact of hygiene interventions on student outcomes

By Nathan Storey, Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins University

Chronic infections and illnesses affect more than just children’s health; they also have serious negative effects on school attendance, achievement, and engagement. Efforts to support and improve student health practices through school-based hygiene interventions may serve to improve not just health practices, but also academic outcomes. In a recent systematic review, Ismail and colleagues examined 23 randomized and non-randomized studies conducted across Africa, Asia, the United States, Spain, Denmark, and China. These studies assessed the impact of school-based health interventions on student outcomes, comparing them to standard curricula and practices.

The review focused on hand-body hygiene (including handwashing), genital hygiene, oral hygiene, and dental hygiene interventions. Hand hygiene interventions typically emphasized washing hands after using the toilet and before meals. Beyond improving student knowledge, attitudes, and hygiene practices, hand-body and genital hygiene interventions also led to statistically significant reductions in infection-related absenteeism.

Although the researchers suggest more evidence would improve their confidence, these findings are encouraging in affirming how positive health practices can improve health-related absences. Student attendance has, after all, been shown to have a vital influence on engagement and achievement.