BACKGROUND:
Hand hygiene is a critical measure in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, particularly gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. Despite increased awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic, hand hygiene compliance among university students remains inconsistent, contributing to elevated infection risks and absenteeism. Aim/

OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to evaluate hand hygiene practices among students at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and assess their relationship with self-reported infection rates. Specific objectives included examining the frequency of handwashing, use of hand sanitizers, adherence to recommended techniques, and associated health outcomes.

METHODS:
A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected via self-administered structured questionnaires from a randomly selected sample of 106 undergraduate and postgraduate students across NMU campuses. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were used to identify associations between hygiene behaviors and the occurrence of infections. Findings/

RESULTS:
There was no statistically significant association between washing hands before meals and the occurrence of common illnesses such as colds, flu, gastrointestinal infections, or throat infections. However, regular use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of gastrointestinal infections; none of the students who consistently used sanitizers reported such infections.

DISCUSSION:
The findings indicate that while handwashing alone may not significantly impact infection rates, consistent use of hand sanitizers may reduce gastrointestinal illness among students. These results underscore the need for targeted hygiene interventions and awareness campaigns within university settings to promote effective, evidence-based hand hygiene practices.