Hygiene

In the SDG definition, hygiene is subsumed under sanitation with a dedicated indicator referring to use / availability of a handwashing facility on premises with soap and water. Hygiene, however, includes a wider set of behaviours and measures that are able to reduce the burden of infectious diseases at home and in the community. It includes e.g. hand hygiene, personal hygiene, safe excreta disposal, ensuring safe water at the point-of-use, menstrual hygiene, general hygiene (laundry, surfaces, baths, sinks), food hygiene (cooking, storing, preventing cross-contamination), animal excreta management and solid waste management. In order to achieve better health outcomes, improved hygiene behaviours, cultural and social sensitivity, hygiene education, behaviour change and increased awareness at all levels of society are required.