Perception of public restroom hygiene and Papillomavirus risk among shopping mall users in Ghana

Despite growing concerns about public restroom hygiene, especially in high-traffic commercial spaces, limited research has explored how users’ perceptions of restroom cleanliness and sanitation conditionsinfluence specific health anxieties, such as the perceived risk of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) transmission, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between perceptions of restroom hygiene and HPV risk among shopping mall users. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 350 mall visitors in Accra, Ghana. Participants completed a structured questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) to assess perceived hygiene quality, HPV transmission risk, and sociodemographic factors. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression were employed to analyse the data. The results revealed a significant inverse relationship between perceived restroom hygiene and perceived susceptibility to HPV (β = -0.38, p < .001). Age and frequency of mall visits were positively associated with higher perceived risk, while higher education was negatively associated with perceived HPV risk. Notably, gender was not a significant predictor. These findings suggest that environmental cues heavily influence public health perceptions, even in the absence of biomedical evidence. Integrating hygiene infrastructure with targeted education may correct misconceptions and promote informed health behaviours in commercial public settings.