Success StoryIncreased Personal Hygiene Leads to Fewer School Absences



Increased Personal Hygiene Leads to Fewer School Absences

Author: Katherine Jury

Planning Unit: Family and Consumer Sciences

Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)

Plan of Work: Improving, basic lifeskills, well-being, and quality of life

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

According to the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings, in Hopkins County, respondents reported an average of 4.5 unhealthy days per month in the last year.  For children, being ill leads to absenteeism from school, and missing important educational information.  In an effort to combat the high incidence of illness and absenteeism due to illness in the Hopkins County Schools, the Hopkins County Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences approached the Family Resource and Youth Services Coordinators at two local Elementary Schools.  They formed a partnership, along with the Physical Education teachers, to educate students on proper hand washing and personal hygiene practices.  The Hopkins County Extension Agent has since led “Healthy Me, Healthy You” programs at both Elementary Schools twice a year, for all students, for the past four years.  During the program, students read the book, Germs Make Me Sick, and then discussed ways to prevent the spread of germs.  Students practiced using the six steps of hand washing, and acted out scenarios to show how they could prevent the spread of germs in those situations. Students then demonstrated the solutions they found to preventing the spread of germs.  Last year, on the one week follow up, 92% of students demonstrated their ability to list at least three times when they should wash their hands, 94% correctly identified all six steps of hand washing, and 96% of students correctly explained why hand washing is important. On one-month follow up evaluations, 91% of students demonstrated their ability to list at least three times when they should wash their hands, 92% correctly identified all six steps of hand washing, and 93% of students correctly explained why hand washing is important.  Since the program was initially implemented in 2014, absenteeism at Pride Elementary School due to illness during peak cold and flu season has decreased consistently every year.  From the Fall Semester of 2014 to the Fall Semester of 2017, absenteeism due to illness has decreased 37%. Both the school administrators and local health department credits student’s increased personal hygiene and hand washing to prevent the spread of germs for the decrease.  






Stories by Katherine Jury


Botvin Life Skills Training Implementation with Students

about 4 years ago by Katherine Jury

The University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research states that the neurodevelopment of t... Read More


Preparing Extension Staff to Implement Botvin Life Skills Training Program

about 4 years ago by Katherine Jury

According to 2018 data collected by the University of Kentuckys Cooperative Extension Service Statew... Read More


Stories by Family and Consumer Sciences


Smarter Lunchrooms Movement

Smarter Lunchrooms Movement

about 4 years ago by Natalie Jones

Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to pr... Read More


KSU-FCLTC Riders Ride On

KSU-FCLTC Riders Ride On

about 4 years ago by Carla Jordan

Frankies Corner Little Thorobred Crusade (FCLTC) is a youth development program that began in 2015. ... Read More