What is the difference between hygiene promotion and health promotion?
Updated - Thursday 10 November 2005
What is the difference between hygiene promotion and health promotion?
Hygiene promotion is more specific and more targeted than health promotion. It focuses on the reduction - and ultimately the elimination - of diseases and deaths that originate from poor hygiene conditions and practices. For example, good hygiene conditions and practices are enhanced when people can consume water that is safe, use sufficient amounts of water for personal and domestic cleanliness, and dispose of their solid and liquid wastes safely.
A person may have good hygiene behaviour, but not be healthy for other reasons. Good or bad health is influenced by many factors, such as the environment (physical, social and economic). For example, in social environments where people are marginalized because of their gender, economic status or religious affiliation, and have no influence whatsoever on decisions that affect their daily lives, they are likely to be prone to anxiety or depression, which can lead to mental problems.
