Disinfection Practices and Knowledge of Hair Care Professional Barbers in the City of Dschang, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Disinfection and sterilization are key processes required to ensure the safety of clients when they visit a barber for a haircut. Barbering practices differ across barbershops depending on the knowledge and economic status of the barber. Several studies have reported on disinfection methods and disinfectants used in barbershops but the manner in which these methods are implemented were not revealed as well as the working concentrations of the disinfectants they used. This study aimed to uncover knowledge on decontamination practices and disinfectants used in barbershops in Dschang and also to assess barbers’ knowledge on these practices and disinfectant substances.Methods: A randomized cross-sectional and observational study approach was conducted amongst 57 consented barbers in the city of Dschang. An interview was held with each barber after observing at least a single haircut and a questionnaire filled during the process by the investigator. Collected data was analysed using GraphPad Prism 5, SPSS21 and Microsoft Excel 2013 and the outcome presented as descriptive statistics.Results: Barbers in Dschang employed flaming (53%), UV light exposure (23%) and alcohol treatment (14%) as their main disinfection methods but performed no sterilization (100%). Disinfectants commonly used were alcohol by 96.5% barbers and sodium or calcium hypochlorite (eau de Javel) by 86% users. Knowledge on the use of these disinfectants and decontamination processes was poor amongst barbers with 94.74% alcohol and 86% sodium hypochlorite poor users.Conclusion: Barbers’ awareness of disinfection in their practice was very impressive but their entire decontamination processes were poor and depicting a contamination risk.

Keywords: Disinfection, Sterilization, Decontamination, barber, barbering.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/85-0

Publication date: January 31^st 2021