Knowledge and Practice of Sneeze and Cough Etiquettes among Participants in A Randomized Study in Ekiti-State, South-Western Nigeria

Background: Indiscriminate sneezing and coughing with infectious runny nose pose threats to public health. In this study, we investigate knowledge and practice of sneeze and cough etiquettes among residents in Ekiti-State, South- Western Nigeria. Objective: To sensitize the public on the roles of sneeze and cough etiquettes in the prevention the spread of infectious respiratory diseases. Methodology: A prospective, cross-sectional, randomized study of respondents in Ekiti State was conducted. Results: In all, 395 participants were studied. Of this number, 228 (57.7%) sneeze or cough into air without a cover on their nose or mouth, 82 (20.7%) into handkerchiefs, 20 (5.1%) into tissue, 22 (5.6%) into bare hand, 5 (1.3%) into sleeve or crook of elbow and 38 (9.6%) use a combination of methods. The proportion of respondents that wash hands or handkerchief soon after clean-up of the runny nose was only 38%. There was an inverse relationship between education attainment and hospital care of runny nose Conclusion: This study shows that the majority (57.7%) of the respondents sneeze or cough into air without a cover on the nose or mouth. Only 1.3% of the respondents sneezes or coughs into sleeve or crook of the elbow which is the most acceptable form of hygiene etiquette. The proportion of respondents that wash hands or handkerchief soon after a clean-up of runny nose was quite small. Education has no comparative advantage over illiteracy in the uptake of treatment of runny nose. We, therefore, recommend that the public must be educated on the best sneeze, cough and respiratory hygiene etiquettes irrespective of their educational attainment.