In The Name Of ALLAH, The Most Merciful, The Most Gracious

Personal Hygiene

By
Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Mid-Term Report of Environment and Family Health
M. Sc. Course

Supervised by
Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem
Public Health & Community Medicine
1436 / 2014

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
1
Mobile: 01096098715

Report Objectives
To display:
-

Definition of personal hygiene

Importance of personal hygiene

How to achieve personal hygiene?

Report Outlines
1. Introduction
2. How to achieve good health?
3. What is personal hygiene?
4. Why personal hygiene?
5. Good personal hygiene
6. Personal hygiene device

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
2
Mobile: 01096098715

1- Introduction
Many factors determine the health both of individuals and of the communities in
which they live. These factors include income, social relationships, access to and
use of basic services such as water supply and sanitation, the quality of available
health services, individual responsibility and the quality of the environment.
Consequently, public health interventions designed to reduce the risk of ill-health
and promote feelings of well-being in a community must consider many social
and environmental factors. These factors will vary in importance between
communities, because of differences in the current services, facilities, priorities
and needs of the communities, and because communities change over time. If
health interventions are needed in several areas, they may need to be prioritized
before they are implemented.

2- How to achieve good health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) good health is not merely the
absence of disease; it is also a reflection of the social and mental well-being of
people in a community. Thus, to achieve the WHO goal of providing health for all,
improvements in a community should aim not simply to reduce disease, but also
to reduce social tensions and mental ill-health to acceptable levels.
Factors that influence health
Many factors influence health and some may have both good and bad influences.
For example, surface water bodies can be beneficial as they can supply water for
domestic and agricultural work, may be used for fishing and recreation, and can
create a pleasant environment. However, they can also be breeding areas for
insects and snails that transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and
schistosomiasis. Pollution of water bodies by humans also increases the risks to
health. Factors that influence health can be grouped as follows:
The environment.
The awareness of individuals and communities about health.
Personal hygiene.
Health care.
Disease.
Department of Environmental Studies
Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
3
Mobile: 01096098715

The linkages between these factors and health are discussed more fully below:

3- What is personal hygiene?

It is the basic concept of cleaning, grooming and it is the first step to good health.
Besides that it is consider as one of the most important part of our daily lives at
home and at workplace which help us to protect ourselves and keep us with good
health.
Personal hygiene includes different habits i.e., washing hands and brushing teeth
which keep bacteria, viruses and fungal far away from our bodies. Moreover
these habits will help us to protect our mental health and activity. Also good
personal hygiene will help us to keep feeling good about ourselves. Since those
who do not take care of their personal hygiene i.e., dirty clothes, body odor and
bad breath will suffer from discrimination and this will mainly leads to mental
problems. But the most important point in this subject, is that all people has their

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
4
Mobile: 01096098715

own hygiene but some people do it better than others, this will mainly depends
on each person culture, society and family norm.
Medical Personal Hygiene
In medical sector this term includes personal attention to prevent the spread of
germs and diseases, and this can be take place by using of personal protective
equipments barrier over the skin these equipments includes gloves, boots and
coverall. Also, good hand washing, scrubbing and skin care can prevent work
exposures to disease and help in removing chemicals, germs and contamination.
Moreover this term i.e., medical hygiene also pertains to the hygiene practices
associated with the administration of medicine, and medical care, these practices
will lead to the prevention or minimization of diseases and their spreading.
In order to reach to the required point of minimization of diseases and their
spreading, there are some important points to do that:
1. Use of protective clothing and barriers, such as masks, gowns, caps, eyewear
and gloves.
2. Disinfection of reusable materials or things (i.e. linen, pads, uniforms).
3. Isolation of infectious persons or materials.
4. Sterilization of instruments used in surgical operations.
5. Safe disposal of medical waste.

4- Why personal hygiene?

Personal hygiene is essential both for improving health and for sustaining the
benefits of interventions. For example, if injuries and minor cuts are not kept
clean, they may become infected and lead to further health problems.
And even though water supplies and sanitation facilities may be constructed in a
community, unless people use these facilities properly and wash their hands after
defecation, store water safely, bathe, and clean clothes and utensils properly,
diseases caused by poor water and sanitation may still exist.
One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and others from
illness is good personal hygiene. This means washing your hands, especially, but
also your body. It means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others,
Department of Environmental Studies
Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
5
Mobile: 01096098715

cleaning things that you touch if you are unwell, putting items such as tissues
(that may have germs) into a bin, and using protection (like gloves or condoms)
when you might be at risk of catching an infection.

5- Good personal hygiene

The most important aspect of maintaining good health is good personal hygiene.
Personal hygiene which is also referred to as personal care includes all of the
following:
Hand washing
Bathing and Showering
Hair care
Nail care
Dental care
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Personal hygiene is keeping the body clean, and helps prevent the spread of
germs. Grooming is caring for fingernails and hair examples of these activities
would be styling hair, shaving, trimming and painting fingernails.
Maintaining good health also includes the following areas: Nutrition,
Leisure/recreation opportunities, sleep, and exercise. As you can see, there are
many factors that contribute to feeling and looking good. Feeling and looking
good are important to each individuals emotional and physical wellbeing.
Handwashing
Proper handwashing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread
of diarrhoeal diseases. Pathogens cannot be seen on hands, and water alone is
not always sufficient to remove them. Soap and wood ash are both cleansing and
disinfecting agents when used with water and can be used to kill pathogens on
hands and utensils. The most important times that hands should be washed with
soap and water are:
After defecating.
After cleaning a child who has defecated.
Before eating or handling food.

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
6
Mobile: 01096098715

To encourage handwashing to become part of the daily routine, suitable facilities

must be located near to places such as latrines and kitchens, where they will be
needed. If running water is available, the facilities should include a tap and a sink
as well as soap.
Bathing and Showering
Regular bathing and laundering are important for cleanliness and good personal
appearance. They also prevent hygiene-related diseases such as scabies,
ringworm, trachoma, conjunctivitis and louse-borne typhus. Educational and
promotional activities can encourage bathing and laundering, but increasing the
number of washing facilities and locating them conveniently may be more
effective. Bathing with soap is an important means of preventing the transmission
of trachomaan illness that can cause blindness and other eyesight problems.
Hair care
Having clean, well groomed hair is important to everyone, and is no less so
For the individual you support. Individuals like different brands of shampoo or
conditioner and may have a preferred style. Individuals may also change their
minds about how they style their hair.
Supplies
Comb
Mirror

Brush
Personal hair products

Nail care
Fingernail and Toenail. Cleaned and trimmed fingernails and toenails are
important for overall health.
Germs often collect underneath the nails. Frequent and thorough hand washing
and foot care is a good way to prevent germ or fungus buildup. Nails that
become too long and/or are rough and torn can scratch and cut an individuals
skin and may result in a local infection. Some individuals (those with diabetes)
should have their nail care completed by a health care professional. Athletes
foot, a fungus that causes an inflammation, cracking, and peeling of the skin
between the toes and can also infect the toenails is of particular concern, and
must be treated

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
7
Mobile: 01096098715

Supplies
Personal nail clippers or nail scissors
Bathtub or bowl

Personal cuticle or orange stick

Clean water

Personal towel

Soap

Personal emery board or nail file

Dental care
Basic dental care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your
dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a
mouth-healthy diet, which means foods high in whole grains, vegetables and
fruits, and dairy products.
Laundry
To promote laundering of clothes and bedding, laundry slabs or sinks can be
constructed near water points. They should be large enough to wash bedding
and other bulky items and be situated so that water drains away from the laundry
area and away from the water source. Locating laundry places in natural water
bodies, streams and irrigation canals is best avoided if possible, since this
practice can contribute to the transmission of schistosomiasis.
Food Hygiene
Contaminated food represents one of the greatest health risks to a population
and is a leading cause of disease outbreaks and transmission. Food that is kept
too long can go bad and contain toxic chemicals or pathogens, and foodstuffs
that are eaten raw, such as fruits or vegetables, can become contaminated by
dirty hands, unclean water or flies. Improperly prepared food can also cause
chemical poisoning: cassava leaf that has not been properly pounded and
cooked, for example, may contain dangerous levels of cyanide. To promote good
health, therefore, food should be properly stored and prepared.

6- Personal hygiene device

United States Patent: Personal hygiene device using real-time object recognition
and end-user feedback- By Marc Philip Ortins, George Henry Leal, Thomas
Aurele Christman

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
8
Mobile: 01096098715

A personal hygiene device includes a personal hygiene implement and a first

position member. The personal hygiene device is capable of providing the user
with feedback which can assist the user in his/her personal hygiene routines.
One embodiment of a personal hygiene device includes at least one personal
hygiene implement and at least one position member that utilizes object
recognition to identify one or more designated features on at least one of a user
and the personal hygiene implement.
Another embodiment of a personal hygiene device includes a toothbrush and at
least one position member that utilizes object recognition to identify one or more
designated features on at least one of a user and the toothbrush.
Another embodiment of a personal hygiene device includes at least one of a
razor, shaver and trimmer and at least one position member that utilizes object
recognition to identify one or more designated features on at least one of a user,
the razor, the shaver and the trimmer.
Another embodiment of a personal hygiene device includes a wash implement
and at least one position member that utilizes object recognition to identify one or
more designated features on at least one of a user, the washcloth and the
sponge.
Another embodiment of a personal
hygiene device includes a cosmetics
applicator and at least one position
member that utilizes object recognition
to identify one or more designated
features on at least one of a user and
the cosmetics applicator.

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
9
Mobile: 01096098715

References
Hassan, B.A., 2012. Importance of Personal Hygiene. Pharmaceut Anal Acta: 3-8
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2153-2435.1000e126
Howard G., Bog C., Goldstein G. et al., 2002. Healthy villages: A guide for
communities and community health- WHO Books:
1- Ch1- Introduction. pp 1-6
2- Ch2- Achieving good health. pp 7-18
3- Ch8- Personal, domestic and community hygiene. pp 65-73
A Guide: Personal Care, Hygiene, and Grooming. Nursing Assistant Care, State
of California, Department of Development Services, USA- 2005
http://www.dds.ca.gov/DSPT/Guides.cfm
Fact sheet: Personal hygiene- Better health Channel- 2011
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Personal_hygiene
Oral Care- WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/basic-dental-care-overview
United States Patent, Ortins et al., Personal hygiene device using real-time
object recognition and end-user feedback, 2014
https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=patentimages.storage.googleapis.c
om/pdfs/US8744192.pdf

Department of Environmental Studies

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
1436 / 2014

Supervised By: Prof. Dr. El-Sayed M. Salem

Presented By: Dalia Elsayed Hussien
Email: daliaelsayed18@gmail.com
10
Mobile: 01096098715