Hygiene and health in vulnerable communities

Abstract

This study aimed to develop health promotion activities focused on personal hygiene with approximately 70 high school students from a state school located near a Basic Health Unit in a vulnerable community exposed to flooding and adverse socio-environmental conditions. It was a descriptive study using a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach, conducted as a university outreach project in the Pilar neighborhood of Duque de Caxias (RJ). Activities included practical hand-washing workshops using paint and gloves, an interactive lecture linking personal hygiene to STIs, the distribution of informational leaflets, and the administration of pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Results showed that 53% of the students considered their hand-washing effective, while 29% were unsure about the technique they used. Furthermore, although 74% reported daily access to clean water, a portion of the sample cited structural difficulties that hindered the maintenance of hygiene habits. The intervention expanded the participants' knowledge of the subject, fostering youth empowerment and health awareness. It was concluded that participatory educational initiatives grounded in public health protocols represent low-cost, high-impact strategies for health promotion in areas of socio-environmental vulnerability, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 10 of the 2030 Agenda.