Determinant Factors of Poor Hygiene Behaviors in Mongolian Adolescents

Introduction Good hygiene behaviors in school develop lifetime positive behaviors in communities. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate poor oral and hand hygiene behaviors and their associated factors among adolescents in Mongolia. Methods The survey involved 7149 Mongolian school-aged adolescents who took part in the "Global School-based Student Health Survey" in 2019. Results Altogether, 35.6% (N = 2542) of students reported poor oral hygiene. Suboptimal hand hygiene practices were common among adolescents: 69.2% (N = 1754) before meals, 72.2% (N = 1827) after toilet use, and 47.0% (N = 1187) reported not always using soap. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, being male, students who live in rural areas, inadequate dietary behaviors including fruit and vegetable consumption, health risk behaviors such as parental smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, physical inactivity, and sedentary leisure time were associated with poor oral and hand hygiene. Conclusion Significant proportions of insufficient tooth brushing and hand-washing practices were found among school-attending children in Mongolia. Numerous risk factors (demographics, dietary behaviors, and health risk behaviors) for poor oral and hand hygiene were identified, which can be utilized for intervention programs for the youth population.