HAND HYGIENE IN A UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT : The Case of Felix Houphouët-Boigny ’ s University ( Abidjan , Ivory-Coast )

The lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is one of the factors of propagation of many diseases in Africa particularly in Ivory Coast. Hand hygiene remains the essential measure of reduction of pathologies, particularly hand-borne infections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hygienic behavior of the university population through the observance of eighteen (18) toilets. The study was carried out in an academic environment with 5, 687 people who attended the university toilets and ran from October 27 to November 30, 2016. The results of this evaluation revealed that the hand hygiene in a university environment is not practiced. As a result of this study, the need for an awareness campaign on hand hygiene in a university environment seems sensible and useful for the adoption of behavioral habits conducive to health.