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ShareKOLKATA: The next time someone offers you something to eat, be wary lest you catch an infection.
A survey conducted by the Global Hygiene Council, an independent body, and supported by Dettol, a Reckitt Benckiser brand, has revealed the deplorable hygiene standards of Indians.
It found that a startling 18% of people do not wash their hands before eating, and even among those who do, one in 10 wash their hands with only water. Given that 50% of Indians do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, there is a high chance of picking up germs from the person sitting next to you.
The study also says only 10% of Indians believe that one can catch an infection at home. According to the results of the Swabbing Study, (in which the actual level of germ contamination across different surfaces in different homes in India was measured), 78% of the surfaces tested in the homes were found to be unsatisfactory in the level of bacteria contamination.
Leading among these was the kitchen cloth where 100% of kitchen cloths were heavily contaminated with illness-causing germs. About 90% of kitchen cooking surfaces, 83% of kitchen sinks, 85% of kitchen taps and 79% of refrigerators had a high level of bacteria.
The results are worrisome because, most people feel the highest risk of infection is from the toilet area. Only 6% feel the kitchen tap could be a source for germs pick-up.
Combined with the high incidence of bacterial contamination at home, poor hand-washing habits mean chances of getting infected at home are quite high.
Says Dr Sandip Ray, member, Global Hygiene Council, "Handwashing continues to be an area neglected both by community and care providers, adding, "Risks of respiratory illnesses can be cut by 16% through proper hand-washing."
The study included two surveys -- an In-Home Swabbing Study conducted across seven countries, and a Hygiene Survey, carried out amongst 10,000 consumers from 10 countries.
m_madhumita@dnaindia.net
