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Pattern, predictors and clustering of handwashing practices in India

Background: Research on handwashing continues to draw researchers’ interest owing to its public health importance and significance in the reduction of infectious diseases. The aims of this study are to: (1) understand the pattern and predictors of handwashing using soap/detergent and water; and (2) assess the spatial clustering of handwashing through soap/detergent and water at the district level in India. Methods: Data of households where the place for handwashing was observed by the research investigators (n = 582,064), gathered through the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015–2016), were used for this analysis. The availability of soap/detergent and water at the usual place of handwashing was assumed to be used for handwashing. Binary logistic regression was carried out to examine the adjusted effect of socioeconomic characteristics on the use of soap/detergent and water for handwashing. The univariate local indicator of spatial association (LISA) cluster map and Moran’s I statistics were applied for assessing spatial autocorrelations at the district level. Analyses were carried out with IBM-SPSS Software. Results: Two-fifths of Indian households do not use both soap/detergent and water for handwashing. Households using both the cleansing elements vary considerably by socioeconomic characteristics— worse for the socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. There is spatial clustering in the use of soap/detergent and water for handwashing: lower in a cluster of districts in eastern India. Conclusion: Results suggest the need to generate awareness, particularly among the socioeconomically weaker populations, about advantages of hand hygiene, which will reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and be helpful to achieve many Sustainable Development Goals.