Association Between Personal Hygiene Practices and Typhoid Fever Among Patients Attending a Primary Healthcare Centre in Highland Papua, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Typhoid fever remains a public health concern in developing countries, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and inadequate personal hygiene. Poor hygiene practices increase the risk of Salmonella Typhi transmission and contribute to the persistence of the disease.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between personal hygiene and the incidence of typhoid fever in the working area of Awimbon Primary Health Centre, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Indonesia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 45 respondents using a total sampling technique. Data on hand hygiene, drinking water hygiene, food hygiene, and toilet sanitation were collected using a structured questionnaire. Typhoid fever status was obtained from medical records. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Cramer's V, with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: Poor hand hygiene, drinking water hygiene, food hygiene, and toilet sanitation were all significantly associated with typhoid fever (p < 0.05). Hand hygiene (Cramer's V = 0.617) and food hygiene (Cramer's V = 0.566) showed strong associations, while drinking water hygiene (0.388) and toilet sanitation (0.326) demonstrated moderate associations.
Conclusion: Personal hygiene was significantly associated with the incidence of typhoid fever. Improving hygiene practices through community-based health education and sanitation interventions is recommended to reduce the burden of typhoid fever.