In formulating home hygiene policy the IFH has adopted a risk assessment approach in which the emphasis is not on indiscriminate use of hygiene procedures to create a “sterile” environment, but a rational approach whereby hygiene is applied appropriately to prevent transmission of harmful organisms whilst minimising any adverse effects.

In 1998, as a first step to improving home hygiene standards, IFH produced a set of guidelines for home hygiene. The key feature of the guidelines is that they are based on the concept of risk assessment and risk prevention. The guidelines start from the premise that homes always contain potentially harmful microbes (from people, pets, food, etc.) and that good hygiene is about targeting measures in the places and at the times that matter, in order to limit risks of exposure. The guidelines include advice on food hygiene, general hygiene, personal hygiene and hygiene related to medical care. In 2002, IFH also published a second set of guidelines which focus specifically on the developing country situation. These guidelines have been modified and adapted to take into account important hygiene issues in the developing world. In addition to topics covered in the original guidelines, new topics include the storage, handling and disinfection of drinking water, as well as sanitation and waste disposal.

Subsequent to the development of these guidelines IFH have produced a set of “Recommendations” which detail the procedures to be used where a hygiene risk is identified. These recommendations address both general situations in the home and situations of specific risk.

The IFH guidelines and recommendations are listed below and the full text is available and can be downloaded from the website.

In recognition of the need to adapt this material for use at community level, IFH is also working to produce “Home Hygiene Training Resources”. The purpose of these materials is to scope and explain the principles and practice of home hygiene in simple practical language which can be understood by those working in the community, many of whom are likely to have little background knowledge in hygiene. In collaboration with the UK Infection Control Nurses Association (ICNA), IFH has produced a training resource for use in developed country situations. We anticipate that a “generic” version of this resource for developing countries will be completed by end 2005.

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFECTION AND CROSS-INFECTION IN THE DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT (Published 1998 revised in 2004)
The guidelines give detailed guidance on how to put home hygiene into practice. It contains sections on general, personal hygiene, food hygiene and also hygiene in situations where there is more risk. The scientific evidence base used to formulate the guidelines is reviewed in “The infection potential in the domestic setting and the role of hygiene practice in reducing infection”

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFECTION AND CROSS-INFECTION IN THE DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT: FOCUS ON HOME HYGIENE ISSUES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (Published 2002)
The guidelines detail “where” and “when” hygiene is needed in the home with particular reference to developing country situations. In addition to guidelines on general and personal hygiene, they include sections on safe disposal of faeces, household water treatment and safe storage, food hygiene etc.


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUITABLE PROCEDURES FOR USE IN THE DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT (Published 2001)
The recommendations detail “how” to achieve hygiene in situations where there is a risk. The scientific evidence base used to formulate the Recommendations is reviewed in: Hygiene procedures in the home and their effectiveness: a review of the scientific evidence base.

HOME HYGIENE - PREVENTION OF INFECTION AT HOME: A TRAINING RESOURCE FOR CARERS AND THEIR TRAINERS (Published 2003)
This is a teaching/self learning resource on home hygiene based on the IFH Guidelines for home hygiene. It has been produced in collaboration with the UK Infection Control Nurses Association. The purpose of these materials is to scope and explain the principles and practice of home hygiene in simple practical language which can be understood by those working in the community, many of whom are likely to have little background knowledge in hygiene. You can download the Training Resource Booklet in PDF format by clicking here or order the full digital/printed training resource kit on-line from the ICNA website.

HOME HYGIENE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: PREVENTION OF INFECTION IN THE HOME AND PERI-DOMESTIC SETTINGS (Published 2006)
This training resource is intended primarily to support community workers and teachers, at local level and across the whole social spectrum, who have responsibility for developing school and community hygiene promotion programmes - but can be used by anyone who needs to obtain an overview of hygiene and hygiene practice in developing country situations. The resource is written in simple practical language and is based on the IFH guidelines and recommendations, and the IFH/ICNA Home Hygiene Training Resource, together with the “Hygiene” section of the UNICEF Facts for Life document.

ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT GERMS IN THE HOME – AND NEVER HAD TIME TO FIND OUT (Published 2005)
This is a short slide presentation on the different types of germs that are found in the home. It can be used as a teaching presentation or for self-learning. It gives a brief description of the various types of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa which are responsible for hygiene-related diseases in the home in developed country situations.

Mind the Germs! Infection control guidance for nurseries, playgroups and other childcare settings
The information contained in the booklet is aimed primarily at staff working in foundation and pre-school childcare settings. It provides details on gastrointestinal infections, how best to avoid infections and how to contribute to outbreak management. The booklet can be obtained from Natalie Price, Public Health Protection Division, Welsh Assembly Government. Natalie.price@wales.gsi.giv.uk

Handewaschen –bringt das was? Gesundheitserziehung im Vor – und grundschulalter
This is a short educational booklet (in German) for school kids on handwashing and its importance for preventing infection and cross infection. It has been prepared by Professor Martin Exner, Professor Dr Manfred Rotter and Carola Ilschner. It is available from MHP-Verlag GMBH Wiesbaden (ISSN 1611-5163, ISBN 3-88681-055-0).


Looking after you and your baby: a CPHVA an ICNA Guide to health and hygiene for parents and others caring for babies
This resource has been produced by the UK Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association in collaboration with the Infection Control Nurses Association. This booklets helps healthcare professionals convey messages to parents. It is detailed yet reader friendly and addresses issues such as nutrition and breast feeding, as well as the measures needed to protect children from infection. The booklet can be obtained from pat@cole-hartford.fsnet.co.uk


Keep it clean and healthy: infection control guidance for nurseries, playgroups and other childcare settings
This resource has been produced in collaboration with the UK Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association in collaboration with the Infection Control Nurses Association. It provides advice on infection control for all those who work with children in care settings including the home. The information can be used to develop your own infection control procedures for your own particular setting. The booklet can be obtained from pat@cole-hartford.fsnet.co.uk


A clean and health start to school: a CPHVA guide for parents and others who have children starting school
Parents want their children to be safe in their new school environment. The UK CPHVA working with Reckitt Benckiser have produced this booklet to help school nurses provide parents and carers with information that will alleviate the children and their own concerns about starting school. While the main theme of the book is infection control and hygiene it also provides guidance on healthy eating safety issues and using medication in schools. It also provides advice on how to reduce risks of infection in the home. The booklet aims to help you equip children with the hygiene skills that they need to protect their health once they start school. The booklet can be obtained from pat@cole-hartford.fsnet.co.uk


Infection and outbreak control guidance: for you, your clinic and your patients
For many people, the first point of contact with their national health service is when they visit the local clinic or health centre. Typically in these facilities, large numbers of peoples congregate sharing rooms and equipment. Many patients may be immunocompromised and thus at more risk of acquiring infection. This booklet provides health care workers with guidance on the standard procedures used to control transmission of infection in normal daily practice. It also contains recommendations for additional precaution that are required when an infectious outbreak occurs. In order to educate patients on the need for infection control and hygiene at home, the resource contains information leaflet for use by healthcare professionals. This resource has been produced in collaboration with the Infection Control Nurses Association and can be obtained from pat@cole-hartford.fsnet.co.uk.

There are a number of practical manuals which give detailed guidance on designing and actioning hygiene promotion programmes in deprived communities:

District Health Promotion using the consensus approach. Juliet Waterkyn, Africaahead 2006
Studies with rural communities in Zimbabwe , have demonstrated the impact of hygiene promotion through community clubs as an effective means of achieving hygiene behaviour change, creating demand for sanitation, and taking it to scale. This training module provides guidelines for planners looking for a practical methodology for conducting a health promotion project through community hygiene clubs at District Level. The manual gives guidance on how to set up and run health clubs, and on the development of training materials and training of health workers . The manual can be downloaded from www.africaahead.com or by contacting Juliet Waterkyn at africaahead@telkomsa.net .

Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion: programming guidance 2005. Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council

Towards better programming: a manual on hygiene promotion 1999. UNICEF Water, Environment and Sanitation Technical Series

A participatory approach for the control of Diarrhoeal diseases. PHAST step by step guide. 1998 World Health Organisation

Encouraging Change; sustainable steps in water supply sanitation and hygiene. 2003 Sally Sutton and Hope Nkoloma, TALC, PO Box 40, St Albans Herts AL1 5TX. (Talc@talcuk.org)