Gender split in hand hygiene behavior and promotion

The purpose of this study is to determine if gender has an influence on hand hygiene behavior and promotion. Hands are the primary vehicle of transmission for many infectious diseases. Teaching appropriate hand hygiene and providing accessible hand sanitizer can be effective components in controlling the spread of micro-organisms. However, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine concluded in an October 2009 study that there are differences in hand washing behavior by gender. This investigation will examine the compliance of men and women with hand washing and using a hand-rub with a waterless alcohol based compound. In order to understand if gender was influential, the research will determine if compliance changed from hand washing to the introduction of hand sanitizers as a consumer product in the late 1990s.

Background reading:

"Shame 'boosts hand-washing rate'"

"American public caught "dirty-handed": Infection-control campaign survey finds 95% claim to wash their hands but only 77% seen doing it"

"Replace Hand Washing with Use of a Waterless Alcohol Hand Rub?"