According to a Gilani Research Foundation Survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, 79 percent Pakistanis agree that they don’t have to think before washing hands after using the washroom; 14 percent disagree.
A nationally representative sample of adult men and women, from across the four provinces was asked, “I will read out a statement related to washing hands. Please tell me that to what extent are in agreement or disagreement with it? ‘Washing my hands after using the toilet/washroom is an act I do not need to think about’.”
In response to this question, 52 percent Pakistanis said they strongly agree with the statement and 27 percent somewhat agreed with it. On the other hand, 11 percent said they somewhat disagreed with it and 3 percent disagreed strongly while 7 percent did not respond.
Gallup Pakistan Executive Director Bilal Gilani points out that hand washing after use of toilet is an important public policy and health issue in developing countries.
Lack of hand washing after defecating is associated with a number of serious diseases such as diarrhoea and typhoid, claiming many lives and a burden on health infrastructure.
The study was released by Gilani Research Foundation and carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 2,705 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during June 09 to June 16, 2014. Error margin is estimated to be approximately ± 2-3 per cent at 95 percent confidence level.
