Author Identifier (ORCID)
Maggie Zgambo: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8667-795X
Abstract
Background: The common cause of death in HIV and AIDS patients are opportunistic infections such as diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, and skin conditions. Many of these infections are spread through contaminated hands. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring hand hygiene practices among HIV positive children and adolescents in Mzuzu City, Malawi. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was used to collect data from children and adolescents living with HIV (aged between 9 and 18 years) WHO were attending teen clubs in Mzuzu City. Data were analysed using Stata 17. Chi-Square and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the association among multiple independent variables on hand hygiene practices. The level of significance for fisher exact and Chi-square tests was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The study found that each additional year of age slightly increases the likelihood of practicing hand hygiene by about 3%. However, individuals with very high emotional levels are approximately 17% less likely to practice hand hygiene compared to those with average emotional levels. Additionally, those without handwashing facilities at home are about 28% less likely to engage in hand hygiene practices compared to those with such facilities. Conclusion: The study revealed several significant insights into the factors influencing hand hygiene practices among children and adolescents living with HIV. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored interventions addressing developmental, emotional, familial, religious, and social factors to promote sustained hygienic behaviors among children and adolescents.
Keywords
Adolescents, children, hand hygiene, HIV& AIDS, teen club
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2-18-2026
Volume
26
Issue
1
PubMed ID
41709187
Publication Title
BMC Pediatrics
Publisher
Springer
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Mbakaya, B. C., Zgambo, M., Moyo, R., Kaseka, P. U., Nkhata, O., & Kalembo, F. (2026). Psychosocial determinants of hand hygiene practices among children and adolescents living with HIV in the Northern city of Malawi. BMC Pediatrics, 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-06147-w