Changes in Adolescent Hygiene Habits Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine and determine hygiene habits in the adolescent population depending on whether the Covid 19 pandemic affected the improvement of hygiene habits in the same population. The research is designed as a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire created using the Google Docs platform was used as an instrument. The sample consisted of 89 respondents of both sexes, aged 18 to 23 years. The analysis shows that there is a difference in maintaining hygienic habits before and after the introduction of the state of emergency. In 20.22% of cases, hygienic habits were better during the state of emergency, and after the mitigation of measures, compared to the period before the introduction of the state of emergency, and in 5.62% of respondents hygienic habits were worse, while in 74.16% of respondents there were no change in hygienic habits. The analysis of the use of disinfectants and masks shows that 60.68% of respondents used disinfectants and masks more often after mitigation of emergency measures compared to the period before the introduction of the state of emergency, 5.62% of respondents used less, while in 33.70 % of respondents there were no changes in the use of disinfectants and masks. The results of this study show a positive relationship between hygiene habits before and during the Covid 19 pandemic, and after mitigation, as well as between the use of disinfectants and masks before and during the Covid 19 pandemic, and after mitigation, which justifies further research in this area.