Handwashing Survey: Just 1 in 10 Adults Properly Wash After Restroom Use

After using the restroom, 71.1% washed their hands, with only 11.2% washing for over 30 seconds.

A recent survey revealed that only 1 in 10 adults in South Korea properly wash their hands with soap for at least 30 seconds.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced these findings from its 2023 survey on infectious disease prevention behavior on the 13th.

The KDCA, in collaboration with the International Korean Nurses Foundation, conducted a survey (observational survey of 3,217 individuals and questionnaire survey of 1,578 individuals) on adults’ handwashing practices from August 14 to September 13 this year.

According to the observational survey, the rate of people washing their hands after using the restroom increased to 71.1%, up from 66.2% a year ago.

Only 11.2% of those who washed their hands (2,288 individuals) used soap to scrub all surfaces of their hands for at least 30 seconds, which is an improvement from last year’s 5.9%, but still means only 1 in 10 people properly washed their hands.

The percentage of people who washed their hands with soap, regardless of the duration, was 25.4%, lower than last year’s 29.4%.

The average time spent washing hands and scrubbing with soap in public restrooms was 11.3 seconds and 7.0 seconds, respectively, slightly longer than last year’s averages of 10.5 seconds and 5.3 seconds.

When broken down by gender, 37.5% of men (1,593 individuals) and 20.4% of women (1,624 individuals) did not wash their hands after using the restroom.

By age group, the rate of not washing hands increased with age, with 23.3% for those in their 20s and 30s, 28.4% for those in their 40s and 50s, and 36.6% for those aged 60 and older.

The surveyed adults cited reasons for not washing their hands as: ‘too bothersome’ (38.8%), ‘too busy’ (25.0%), and ‘not a habit’ (15.2%).

Reasons for not using soap when washing hands included: ‘hands didn’t seem too dirty’ (30.8%), ‘too bothersome’ (23.6%), and ‘too busy’ (17.3%).

They responded that the rate of handwashing would increase if measures such as paper towel placement (27.8%), liquid soap installation (23.1%), and overall hygiene improvement (19.8%) were implemented.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper handwashing can prevent 30% of diarrheal diseases and 20% of respiratory infections.

Ji Young-mi, the head of the KDCA, emphasized that “many infectious diseases can be prevented by proper handwashing” and recommended “using soap to wash hands for at least 30 seconds, especially before and after meals, and after using the restroom.”

In light of the 16th Global Handwashing Day (October 15), the KDCA plans to promote the importance of proper handwashing for infectious disease prevention and to enhance national awareness through both online and offline promotional activities.