Mobile Phone-Linked Infection Risks: A Survey of Awareness, Hygiene Practices and Associated Factors Among Mobile Phone Users in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria

Abstract Background: Mobile phones have become an integral part of our daily lives, and their cleanliness and potential health hazards are often overlooked, constituting significant health risks, primarily due to the potential for bacterial contamination. However, despite their widespread use, evidence points to low level of awareness and inconsistent hygiene practices among mobile phone users. As a result, this population-based study examined the awareness of infection transmission risks, hygiene practices, and related factors among mobile phone users in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. Methods: A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was employed to gather data from 580 residents of Ijebu-Ode physically and virtually, utilising a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, and analysed using SPSS 23 with Pearson Correlation Coefficient to determine the relationship between variables at P < 0.05 level of significance. Results: Findings indicate overall low level of knowledge of the risks of mobile phone infection transmission among majority of the participants (weighted mean =3.45 < 3.50 threshold) and majority (62.5%) exhibited poor mobile phone hygiene practices. Among other factors, the fear of damage (32.0%) was the major reason given by participants for not cleaning their mobile phones. A statistically significant correlation was observed between exposure to mobile phone-cleaning education and improved hygiene practices (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a critical gap in knowledge and the need for targeted educational interventions to improve hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection transmission through mobile phones in public.