Assessment of hand hygiene awareness and practice levels amid the COVID-19 period: a comparative study of the public in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates

In Jordan and the UAE, awareness and practices around hand hygiene among various demographic groups show room for improvement, with overall awareness levels ranging from average to good during the pandemic of COVID-19. Females, higher education level (Master's and Ph.D. degree holders), and age (50 + years old) were significant factors influencing awareness and hygiene practices. To further enhance hand hygiene awareness and practices, particularly among younger and less-educated individuals, awareness campaigns and health education programs are recommended. These findings can aid policymakers in designing effective, targeted strategies for promoting public health measures across diverse community sectors to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.