A hygiene and sanitation campaign conducted at SDN Bukit Indah in Lamandau Regency has successfully improved handwashing with soap (HWWS) behavior among elementary school students. The community service program was carried out by Muhammad Rahmanto, Hajah Siti Khadijah, Yusterfina Selan, Agung Tri Wibowo, Sonia Santa Pereira Da Costa, and Yulia Nur Khayati from the Public Health Program, Faculty of Health, Ngudi Waluyo University, and was published in 2026 in the Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB). The initiative is considered important because poor handwashing habits remain one of the major causes of diarrhea and respiratory infections among school-age children.
The study explained that handwashing with soap is one of the most effective and affordable methods for preventing disease transmission. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), proper HWWS practices can reduce diarrhea cases by up to 40 percent and respiratory infections by up to 21 percent. However, initial observations at SDN Bukit Indah showed that many students were still not accustomed to washing their hands before eating, after using the toilet, or after outdoor activities.
In addition to low awareness among students, sanitation facilities at the school were also limited. Handwashing stations were insufficient, soap was not consistently available, and there were no visual educational materials to support hygiene habits within the school environment. Researchers emphasized that the issue was not only related to individual behavior but also connected to the school environment, which had not fully supported proper hygiene practices.
The campaign was conducted in November 2025 and involved 20 fourth-grade students at SDN Bukit Indah. The program consisted of three main stages:
- Initial observation of students’ HWWS behavior
- Educational sessions and handwashing demonstrations using audio-visual media
- Post-campaign evaluation of student behavior
During the campaign, students received direct demonstrations of the six proper handwashing steps based on WHO standards. The research team also installed posters and educational banners in strategic locations such as near the school canteen and toilets to help students remember the importance of washing hands with soap. Classroom teachers were actively involved in guiding and reminding students throughout the program.
The evaluation results showed significant improvements across all indicators of handwashing behavior. According to the research table presented on page 4, all indicators increased by 50 percent after the intervention.
The behavioral changes included:
- Handwashing before eating increased from 35 percent to 85 percent
- Handwashing after using the toilet increased from 40 percent to 90 percent
- Soap usage during handwashing increased from 30 percent to 80 percent
- Correct performance of the six HWWS steps increased from 20 percent to 70 percent
- Daily handwashing frequency increased from 25 percent to 75 percent
The graph shown on page 4 illustrates that students’ HWWS behavior improved from a range of 20–40 percent before the campaign to 70–90 percent afterward. The documentation images also show students participating directly in handwashing demonstrations inside classrooms and school facilities alongside teachers and facilitators.
According to Muhammad Rahmanto and the team from Ngudi Waluyo University, demonstration-based education and direct practice were the key factors behind the program’s success. Visual and practical learning methods helped students understand and remember the correct handwashing procedure more effectively than classroom theory alone.
The study also found that teacher involvement played a crucial role in building sustainable hygiene habits among students. Teachers consistently reminded students to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet, helping transform the behavior into a daily routine within the school environment.
Researchers concluded that hygiene and sanitation campaigns like this can become effective preventive strategies for reducing environment-based diseases in elementary schools. The combination of education, demonstrations, visual media, simple facilities, and teacher assistance was proven effective in creating a more sustainable culture of cleanliness.
The program also increased awareness among teachers and school administrators about the importance of school-based health promotion. Researchers hope that similar campaign models can be implemented in other schools, particularly in areas with limited sanitation facilities and low hygiene awareness among children.
Author Profiles
- Muhammad Rahmanto – Program Studi Kesehatan Masyarakat, Fakultas Kesehatan, Universitas Ngudi Waluyo; bidang keahlian promosi kesehatan dan sanitasi lingkungan.
- Hajah Siti Khadijah – Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Yusterfina Selan – Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Agung Tri Wibowo – Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Sonia Santa Pereira Da Costa – Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Yulia Nur Khayati – Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
Research Source
Rahmanto, M., Khadijah, H. S., Selan, Y., Wibowo, A. T., Costa, S. S. P. D., & Khayati, Y. N. (2026). Hygiene Sanitation Campaign for Washing Hands with Soap at SDN Bukit Indah, Lamandau Regency. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5 No. 4, April 2026, pp. 299–306.
0 Komentar