Soldiers' knowledge on hygiene status in a military training center

Document Type : Original Research

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Abstract

AIMS. Using health measures is one of the principles to protect human societies. Regarding the importance of hygiene in society and specially among military troops their health protection is necessary to protect the society, special attention to soldiers hygiene and keeping them healthy is essential to increase the defense power of country. In this study, hygiene status of soldiers and their hygienic knowledge level and attitude of duty personnel in hygienic problems were analyzed. METHODS. This is a cross sectional study done among 215 duty personnel in a military training center. Information is collected by a questionnaire. RESULTS. More than 85% of soldiers have vaccination records, 94.5% have received tetanus and diphtheria vaccine and 99% have received meningitis vaccine. Addiction to smoking was very low in the studied society and is about 1%. 96% of soldiers brushed their teeth at least once a day. However, personal health care like washing hands before eating and bathing were done in 87.3% and 86.9% respectively. Soldiers' knowledge about AIDS transmission methods was very low. CONCLUSION. Vaccination coverage among duty personnel is higher than normality of society. Health status and knowledge level of duty personnel about personal and social health is not satisfied. Increasing soldiers' hygienic knowledge level during military trainings must be of more attention.  

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Journal of Military Medicine
Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 34
January and February 2009
Pages 293-297

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