Education and Practice of Handwashing with Soap as an Effort to Prevent Disease in Students of SDIT Pribadi Mulia, Bekasi City

Abstract

Maintaining personal hygiene is an essential step in preventing various infectious diseases among school-aged children. Children tend to have high levels of activity and frequently interact with their surrounding environment, making them more susceptible to exposure to disease-causing microorganisms. Dirty hands can be a medium for transmitting various pathogens that can cause diarrhea, influenza, and respiratory tract infections. However, in reality, many children still lack adequate understanding of the importance of personal hygiene and do not consistently apply it in their daily lives. This community service activity aims to improve students’ knowledge and skills related to clean and healthy living behaviors through health education. The activity was conducted on October 31, 2025, at SDIT Pribadi Mulia, located at Jl. Bhakti 2, Jatiranggon, Jatisampurna District, Bekasi City, West Java, involving 28 participants from grades 1 and 2 of elementary school. The methods used included health education sessions followed by demonstrations and hands-on practice of proper handwashing with soap. The results showed that students participated enthusiastically in all activities and were able to correctly perform the handwashing steps after receiving demonstrations and guidance. This activity is expected to enhance students’ awareness in practicing clean and healthy behaviors and contribute to preventing disease transmission, particularly within the school environment.