Exploring Hygiene Behaviours amongst Child Caregivers in Rural Malawi Using Multilevel Logistic Models

This study aimed to explore factors that influence food hygiene behaviours among child caregivers in Chikwawa district, Malawi. It was done so by exploring factors relating to three hygiene behaviours among child caregivers: keeping utensils on an elevated surface, using soap to clean kitchen utensils, and washing hands with soap at critical times. Research has shown that these behaviours contribute to the reduction of diarrheal disease. Through this research, it was as well aimed to explore variations at household and village levels by the use of multilevel binary logic models. The results have revealed that education background, age group, occupation, self-confidence, intervention, self-will, and perception were the most significant behavioural factors relating to food hygiene behaviours. There were variations at village level (p0.1). It has also revealed that Caregivers from the area of intervention had a positive response to the interventions.