Around the World Facts
According to the 2008 International Hygiene Survey, over half (51%) of the people surveyed believe 'washing hands regularly' is the most effective way to help protect against catching flu. However, only 28% use soap with antibacterial properties; two thirds (61%) of people usually use 'regular hand soap.' (*This finding does not include statistics from the USA.)
Get the results from the 2008 International Hygiene Survey along with interesting key findings for Canada, USA, and other countries. Click on the links below to learn more.
- Over half (51%) of people believe 'washing hands regularly' is the most effective way to help protect against catching flu according to International Hygiene Survey 2008. However, only 28% use soap with antibacterial properties; two thirds (61%) of people usually use 'regular hand soap'. (*This finding does not include statistics from the USA.)
- A fifth (21%) of people think 'avoiding public places' is the second best way to help protect against catching the flu. (*This finding does not include statistics from the USA.)
- 9 out of 10 Canadians think the best way to avoid flu is to 'wash hands regularly', as do more than half of all other populations tested, compared to less than 3 out of 10 Italians.
- Nearly two thirds (61%) of people usually use 'regular hand soap' over anything else to wash their hands. The only place where this is not the case is in Great Britain where over half use antibacterial soap (51%).
- Worldwide, the use of 'antibacterial liquid hand soap and running water' to wash hands has increased in the last year; in 2008, 28% of people are using antibacterial liquid hand soap, compared to 24% in 2007.
- More than two in five people (44%) believe the 'rubbish bin' poses the greatest risk of transmitting germs to them or their child, over the kitchen tap, bathroom sink and bathtub. This is compared to nearly a third (30%) who think the 'toilet seat' poses the greatest risk.
- Australian children are least likely to ALWAYS washing their hands before eating (only 29%); children in Malaysia and India are most likely to ALWAYS wash their hands before eating (80% and 79% respectively).
- The majority of respondents (53%) said they wash their hands for 10 seconds or less (24% for 5 seconds and 29% for 10 seconds) when actually the optimal time is 20 seconds.
- Two thirds of people in India and Saudi Arabia claim to clean and disinfect their bathtub/shower EVERY day (63% and 64% respectively), while only 4% do in Australia.
- Only 3 in 5 (59%) people claim their children ALWAYS wash their hands before eating. A quarter said 'most' of the time (26%), 9% sometimes, 2% rarely and 1% never (3% refused to answer).
- A third (31%) of people believe surface disinfection on a regular basis is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs in the home (second to 'washing hands regularly). (*This finding does not include statistics from the USA.)
- Over two thirds (68%) of people worldwide do NOT use an antibacterial or disinfectant kitchen cleaner to clean kitchen surfaces. [More people choose to use a regular kitchen cleaner, without disinfectant or antibacterial (37%).] (*This finding does not include statistics from Great Britain.)
- 9 out of ten Canadians believe the best way to avoid flu is to 'wash hands regularly' and 7 out of ten Canadians (69%) believe 'washing hands regularly' is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs in the home - more than any other country surveyed.
- 4 out of 5 (80%) of Canadians think the school / day care facility poses the greatest danger to children in terms of picking up harmful germs; over half (52%) think the school or day care teacher is very important in terms of educating children on good germ prevention habit. 9 in 10 respondents in Quebec think school / day care facility poses the greatest threat, compared to 8 in 10 or less in other regions.
- Parents/guardians are perceived as the most important people in educating children about germ prevention over school teachers and doctors.
- Those who did not graduate from High School view parents as less important in educating children about germ prevention, compared to those respondents who did graduate.
- Canadian's are confused about the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. A fifth (21%) of people think 'avoiding public places' is the second best way to help protect against catching the flu.
- America is practically equally divided in hand washing habits. 48% wash with just running water and regular soap, while 47% are using antibacterial liquid hand soap.
- Two in five (39%) Americans are as much concerned about an infant coming into contact with harmful germs in the home as outside of the home.
- A quarter of Americans (25%) think they are most likely to come into contact with harmful germs in the kitchen or from the kitchen cloth (this is supportive by home study results). 18% suggested the refrigerator door, however, this is the appliance they are least likely to disinfect regularly (49%) - contradicted by 100% cleanliness in home study results.
Source: International Hygiene Survey (conducted by TNS Canadian Facts in February 2008)
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