Animals & Hand Washing

Presented By: Gloria Wagner, MS., LD.

& Deborah Shriver, MS., CFCS

“IF YOU PET IT, DON’T FORGET IT; WASH YOUR HANDS, YOU WON’T

REGRET IT”

Supporting Research

• Today's society is becoming increasingly Suburban (Sorenson, 1987).

• Many children visiting working farms, animal exhibitions, and petting zoos– Provides opportunities to learn more about

agriculture and rural life

Supporting Research Cont.• Research shows

– That animals can play an important role in a child’s life.

– That children who are behaviorally, emotionally, or socially at-risk tend to benefit from a relationship with an animal (Robin, tenBensal, Quigley, &Anderson, 1983).

– That animals can enhance positive self-esteem for children (Bergesen, 1989).

– That children who own pets are more involved in extra curricular activities (Melson, 2002).

Should We Be Concerned?• Certainly!

– If basic sanitary conditions are not being maintained or adhered too

– Animals can carry diseases that can be passed on to humans

• Diseases known as– Zoonotic or Zoonoses diseases

» Cryptosporidium» Ringworm» Salmonella» E-coli

Project Goal

To increase awareness of the importance of hand washing, especially after touching animals.

Research Project Objectives:

Determine if hand washing signs impact hand washing behavior of county ad state fair attendees

Determine if the use of hand washing signs affect the attitude and behavior of members of county and state fair boards

Target Population

Attendees of County and State Fairs

County and State Fair Boards

Methods:

Research Project Team designed pre and post questionnaire.

Questionnaire distributed to Extension Agents in 12 Counties.

Extension Agent delivered pre-questionnaire to county and state fair boards requesting pre-responses.

Methods:

Hand washing signs posted at 12 county/state fair grounds prior to beginning of fairs.

At closure of fairs, Extension Agents delivered post questionnaire to county and state fairs requesting post-responses.

Methods for Data Collection

Data collected from 12 counties.

Data entered into SPSS database and analyzed.

Research results disseminated to Extension Agents.

Results were shared with county and state boards.

Results for Pre-Questionnaire

12 counties reported that an infectious outbreak related to animals or food borne illness had never ever been reported at a county fair

8 of the 12 counties reported that it was very important to post hand washing signs at animal exhibits.

9 of the 12 counties reported that they had never posted hand washing signs at animal exhibits at county fairs.

Results for Pre-Questionnaire Cont.

Of the 9 counties not posting signs, the most significant reason was that it had never occurred to them to do so.

7 of the 12 counties reported that they did not think the signs were important or effective.

12 counties reported they would use hand washing signs if provided.

Reasons for Not Posting Signs Even When Provided:

Didn’t feel it was fair board’s responsibility to post the signs.

Posting signs would result in overuse of restroom facilities.

Posting signs would result in excess water bills.

Inadequate restroom facilities to allow for hand washing.

Results for Post Questionnaire

12 counties reported posting the hand washing signs at their fairs.

Results for Post Questionnaire Cont.As a result of posting signs, significant

changes at fairs had occurred.

More people requested additional restroom facilities at fairs.

More people complained about inadequate restroom facilities at fairs.

Restroom lines were longer indicating restroom use.

More soap and paper towels were used this year at the fair.

Animal exhibitors shared with fair boards that they appreciated the hand washing signs.

Awareness was raised to the importance of washing hands after touching animals.All 12 counties reported posting the signs at locations where fair animals were exhibited even though a majority of them had not been doing it previously.The impact of posting hand washing signs did change hand washing behaviors at fairs.

The availability of posted hand washing signs did affect the attitude of members of county and state fair boards.Fair animals exhibitors were appreciative of hand washing signs being postedMore soap and paper towels were used at the fair this year.

Project Funded By:

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Families and Health Unit

Nutrition and Health Team

WVU-ES Communications Unit

ReferencesBergesen, F. (1989). The effects of pet facilitated therapy on the

self esteem and socialization of primary school children. In a paper presented at the 5th international conference on the relationship between humans and animals, Monaco, 1989.

Melson, G. F. (2002). Society and Animals. pp. 347-357.

Robin, M., tenBensal, R., Quigley, J., & Anderson, R. (1983). Childhood pets and the psychosocial development of adolescents. In A. Katcher & A. Beck, (Eds.), New perspectives in our lives with companion animals (pp. 436-443). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Sorenson. D. D. (1987). How to keep ‘em up on the farm and farming. The American School Board Journal, 174, 6-28.