Understanding hygiene knowledge and practices among urban slum women in Dhaka, Bangladesh: insights from a cross-sectional study

Hygiene knowledge and practices are essential for preventing morbidities among people living in densely populated areas such as the slums of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Limited hygiene knowledge and inadequate hygiene practices contribute to various health problems and affect daily living. This study aimed to assess hygiene-related knowledge and practices among women residing in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Levels of hygiene knowledge and practices were categorized as ‘good’ or ‘poor’ based on responses to relevant questionnaires. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to assess hygiene knowledge and practices and to identify their associated factors. A total of 379 women of reproductive age participated in the study. Overall, 57% of the respondents had ‘good’ hygiene knowledge, while 60.2% demonstrated ‘good’ hygiene practices. Multiple logistic regression showed that women with good hygiene knowledge had significantly higher odds of practicing good hygiene (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 3.82; 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.34, 6.22). The strong association identified between hygiene knowledge and hygiene practices highlights the importance of improving awareness and understanding of hygiene. Strengthening hygiene education initiatives in slum communities may improve hygiene behaviors and ultimately enhance overall health and well-being.