Hygiene practices in childhood: a comprehensive approach from nursing

Abstract

The research focused on the importance of hygiene in childhood, understood as a set of essential practices for preserving individual and collective health. It highlighted that, from Florence Nightingale's contributions in the 19th century to the contemporary approaches of Leininger, Orem and Pender, nursing has recognised the influence of the physical, social and cultural environment on disease prevention. The study emphasised that children aged 9 to 12 were at a decisive stage in consolidating hygiene habits, being particularly vulnerable to gastrointestinal, respiratory and dermatological infections when these practices were not applied properly. It also showed that Nightingale's environmental theory remained valid today, as clean air, clean water and environmental hygiene continued to be determining factors in health. It was highlighted that Leininger's cultural perspective allowed for the design of educational strategies adapted to local contexts, while Orem's self-care model and Pender's health promotion theory emphasised autonomy and personal motivation for the adoption of healthy behaviours. The lack of hygiene, particularly hand washing, increased the transmission of preventable diseases. Therefore, it was stated that nursing played a key role as an educational and social agent, not only in clinical care, but also in the formation of sustainable habits in childhood. It was concluded that hygiene should be understood as a comprehensive practice that strengthened health, self-esteem, and equity in childhood.