Toy Hygiene Education For Hospitalized Mothers

While studies show that toys contain significant amounts of pathogenic microorganisms and may be effective in the spread of hospital-acquired infections, it appears that the literature and hospital practices on the disinfection of these toys are quite limited. Additionally, there is no routine practice to ensure toy hygiene in most health institutions. Therefore, in order to prevent the transfer of infectious agents through toys, policies and guidelines regarding toy cleaning methods and frequency should be established in hospitals. At the same time, families should be educated about the fact that toys can be a source of infection, and correct behavioral changes regarding toy hygiene should be created. When the literature was examined, it was determined that there were no routine hygiene practices regarding the cleaning of toys in children's clinics in Turkey. For this reason, the study will examine the effect of the toy hygiene education created by the researchers on the knowledge levels and practices of mothers and the surface cleaning of toys. It is thought that the results of the study will be a basis for creating clinical guidelines.