Determinants of Hand Washing Practices among Adolescents in India: Findings from CNNS Data, 2016-18

Abstract

The study attempts to assess the effect of socioeconomic determinants on access to Good Handwashing Practices (GHP) among the adolescent population in India. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS), 2016-18 dataset is used to identify the predictor and outcome variable for the study. Binary logistic regression established the adolescent’s age and sex, mother’s schooling, wealth index, and the region as a significant predictor for GHP. The study revealed that gender, age, caste, education, individual household wealth, and the region has a significant association with adolescent hand-washing practices, where economic conditions drive the individual practice of handwashing more than the behavioural aspect. It requires government intervention to improve sanitation and water facilities to accelerate hand-washing among adolescents in India.