Making hygiene matter in the home and community setting: a review of the impact of hygiene behaviour change during COVID-19 and learnings for the future

In 2022, the Global Hygiene Council convened a meeting of global experts. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the vital role that hygiene practices, including handwashing, disinfection of contact surfaces and the use of masks for protection against airborne viruses, play in protecting the public from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and ensure that learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic help shape future public health policies and recommendations in infection prevention and pandemic preparedness.

The role of hygiene in controlling the spread of covid-19

The potential role of hygiene in mitigating amr

The impact of hygiene and the economy

Sustaining and encouraging effective hygiene behaviours

The outcome of the expert meeting was the proposal of four key pillars for change, which outline the GHC experts’ recommendations and suggested steps for improving and sustaining the adoption of appropriate hygiene practices.

It is the GHC’s aspiration that these pillars for change will inform the global public health agenda, drive change in public health policies, ensure better preparedness for future pandemics, decrease AMR and deliver better health outcomes globally.