Table 1.
Demographics and hygiene practices.
| Characteristic | Prevalence % (n) |
|---|---|
| Black | 90% (39) |
| Female |
59% (26) |
|
Housed in the past 30 days | |
| Homeless shelter | 59% (26) |
| Street/outdoors | 18% (8) |
| Doubled up | 9% (4) |
| Transitional/Treatment program |
7% (3) |
|
Frequency of showers (in last week) | |
| Daily | 34% (15) |
| 3-6 times | 30% (13) |
| Twice | 16% (7) |
| Once | 14% (6) |
| None |
7% (3) |
|
Most common location of shower (n=42) | |
| Shelter | 81% (34) |
| Friends/family |
14% (6) |
|
Frequency of hand washing (in a typical day) | |
| ≥5 times | 48% (21) |
| 2-4 times | 34% (15) |
| Once | 18% (8) |
| Hand sanitizer in the last week (yes) | 84% (37) |
| Clothes/bedding sharing (yes) |
18% (8) |
|
Frequency of clothes washing (in past month) | |
| 6 + times | 11% (5) |
| 3-5 times | 45% (20) |
| 1-2 times | 32% (14) |
| 0 times |
9% (4) |
|
Laundry method (n=42) | |
| Shelter washing machine | 57% (24) |
| Laundromat | 12% (5) |
| Laundry facilities at drop-in center | 10% 4) |
| Washing machine at home of family or friend | 7% (3) |
| Public sink | 5% (2) |
| Shelter's sinks | 2% (1) |