KIDSHandwashing helps keep children healthy
Is this true? Make your call, then see what the science says.
Short answer: Yes. The evidence supports this.
Australian health guidance says washing hands with soap and water helps stop infections spreading, including to children. Research on school hygiene programmes is less certain, so handwashing is one useful habit, not a guarantee.
AI-generated summary of the research cited · not reviewed by a medical professional · checked 17 October 2026 · How we checkWhat the research found
Victorian health guidance says thorough handwashing with soap and water can protect you and others from infectious diseases. These include stomach bugs and respiratory infections like colds, flu and COVID-19. It notes some of these can cause serious complications, especially in young children.
Reviews of the research have looked at handwashing in children's settings. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis included 39 trials of school-based hygiene programmes, and 23 contributed data to the meta-analysis. It rated the certainty of the evidence as very low to low. A 2021 Cochrane review looked at hand-washing promotion to prevent diarrhoea, which it describes as a major cause of child deaths in low- and middle-income countries.
A 2008 review of 75 studies of stomach-bug outbreaks in child care centres found that nappy changing, confined spaces and children's hygiene habits help these infections spread. That is why hand hygiene is a focus in these settings.
What it doesn’t mean
- The low certainty applies mainly to school programmes that teach hygiene. It does not mean handwashing does nothing. It means the trials are not strong enough to say how big the benefit is.
- Handwashing does not replace immunisation. National guidance describes immunisation as an effective way to prevent some infections, and good personal habits as key to reducing spread.
- Soap and water is better than hand sanitiser, and you should dry hands well. If a young child has a stomach bug or respiratory illness and seems very unwell, talk to a GP.
Sources
General information only, not medical advice. KIDS fact-checks are generated by AI from published research and are not reviewed by doctors or other health professionals. They can be wrong or out of date. Always talk to your GP or child’s doctor about your child, and call 000 in an emergency. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
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