A COMPARATIVE SHORT REVIEW OF HAND HYGIENE INTERVENTIONS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND EFFECTIVENESS

Hand hygiene is a critical practice for preventing the spread of infectious diseases,particularly in school settings where children are at high risk.This comparative review examines hand hygiene interventions across various global contexts, focusing on the effectiveness and challenges of different strategies.The review synthesizes findings from several studies involving diverse approaches such as peer-led education, structured hygiene programs, and interactive methods like glow gel demonstrations.While all interventions demonstrated positive outcomes in improving children's hand hygiene knowledge and behaviors, the degree of success varied depending on factors like resource availability, cultural contexts,and long-term sustainability.Peer-led models,for instance,were found to be effective in low-resource settings, while structured programs showed consistent improvements in controlled environments.Interactive tools,such as video demonstrations, enhanced learning by providing visual feedback. However, challenges such as insufficient facilities, cultural barriers, and inadequate reinforcement mechanisms were noted as significant limitations in sustaining longterm behavior changes. This review highlights the importance of tailoring interventions to local contexts, ensuring resource availability, and involving caregivers and communities in promoting hand hygiene practices. Recommendations include emphasizing scalable,culturally sensitive approaches for global implementation to improve children's health outcomes.