Factors affecting the increase of hygiene-related disease among university students

Leong, Wai Yan and Yap, Zhi Xuan (2026) Factors affecting the increase of hygiene-related disease among university students. Final Year Project, UTAR.

PDF Download (1354Kb)

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of hygiene-related diseases among university students has become a growing public health concern, particularly in campus environments where shared facilities and close social interactions are common. This study aims to examine the factors influencing hygiene practices among students at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Specifically, it investigates the impact of knowledge of hygiene, attitude towards hygiene, campus environmental hygiene, and peer influence on students’ hygiene practices. A quantitative research design was adopted, using a structured questionnaire distributed to UTAR students. A total of 377 respondents were selected through simple random sampling to ensure representativeness. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), including reliability tests and multiple regression analysis to determine the relationships between variables. The findings reveal that knowledge of hygiene, campus environmental hygiene, and peer influence have significant positive relationships with hygiene practices among university students. In contrast, attitude towards hygiene was found to have an insignificant relationship. These results indicate that while students may possess positive attitudes, it does not necessarily translate into actual hygiene behaviour. Environmental factors and social influence play a more critical role in shaping students’ daily hygiene practices. This study contributes to a better understanding of hygiene-related behaviours in higher education settings and provides practical implications for university administrators and health policymakers. Improving campus sanitation facilities, promoting hygiene awareness, and leveraging peer influence can effectively enhance hygiene practices among students and reduce the risk of hygiene-related diseases.

Actions (login required)