Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective and affordable measures for preventing infectious diseases among children, yet compliance in school settings continues to be suboptimal. This localized intervention research investigates the role of community nurses in improving hand hygiene compliance among school-age children through targeted education, structured demonstrations, and periodic reinforcement sessions. The research was conducted in selected primary schools, where community health nurses implemented a multifaceted intervention consisting of interactive handwashing workshops, illustrated hygiene boards, short audiovisual demonstrations, and peer-supported monitoring. A pre- and post-intervention observational checklist was used to assess compliance using the WHO’s “Five Moments for Hand Hygiene” adapted for school environments. Baseline observations revealed poor adherence, particularly before meals and after outdoor play. Following the intervention, statistically significant improvements were observed across all hygiene opportunities, with the highest gains in post-defecation and pre-lunch handwashing compliance. Qualitative feedback from teachers and students revealed increased awareness, perceived usefulness of demonstrations, and improved peer influence on hand hygiene behaviours. The findings highlight that community nurses serve as effective facilitators of behaviour change due to their clinical expertise, communication skills, and trust-building capacity within local communities. The intervention demonstrates that structured educational programs led by nurses can substantially elevate hygiene standards among children and reduce the risk of common seasonal infections. The research underscores the need to integrate community nurses into school health programs, promote regular hygiene audits, and incorporate child-friendly behavioural reinforcement strategies. These results reinforce the importance of nurse-led community engagement in sustaining hand hygiene compliance and contribute to the broader public health goal of reducing preventable infectious diseases in school settings.