Table 3.

Hand washing practices among primary school children, Angolela, Ethiopia, October 2008

Characteristics	N( Total=669)	%
Washed hands day prior to interview
No	2	0.3
Yes	662	99.7
Reasons for washing hand **
After defecation	99	14.8
Before meals	661	99.0
After meals	306	45.8
Materials used for hand washing
Soap and water	242	36.2
Water only	426	63.8
Usually wash hands before meal?
No	4	0.6
Yes	665	99.4
Usually wash hands after meal?
No	41	6.1
Yes	627	93.9
When do you prefer to wash hands? **
Before eating meals	656	98.8
After eating meals	353	53.1
Don’t know	3	0.5
Which do you think is important? **
Washing after defecation	513	76.7
Washing before eating meals	667	99.7
Washing after eating meals	573	85.7

^*Numbers/percentages may not add up to the total number due to missing data

^**Not mutually exclusive