Awareness of Bacterial Contamination and Hygiene Practices among Motorcycle Taxi Users in a Health-Allied Student Population

Abstract

The increasing use of motorcycle taxi services in Metro Manila has raised public health concerns regarding shared passenger helmets, which may serve as fomites for bacterial contamination because of repeated contact with users’ scalp, hair, skin, and facial areas. This study examined the awareness of bacterial contamination and hygiene practices among motorcycle taxi users in a health-allied student population. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, the study surveyed 145 third-year Medical Technology and Nursing students from Centro Escolar University-Manila through a validated online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank-order correlation, Pearson’s r as a reference value, and independent-samples t-tests. Findings showed that respondents had very high awareness of bacterial contamination risks associated with shared motorcycle taxi helmets, with an overall awareness mean of 3.45. Hygiene practices were also generally high, with an overall mean of 3.60, although direct sanitization behaviors remained inconsistent. The greatest reported challenges were the lack of hygiene regulations or enforcement and poor or irregular helmet sanitation by operators. A significant moderate positive relationship was found between awareness and hygiene practices, ρ = .357, p < .001. Female respondents reported significantly higher awareness than males, while no significant differences were found between Medical Technology and Nursing students. The findings suggest that awareness contributes to hygiene behavior but is insufficient when structural barriers remain. Stronger sanitation protocols, passenger education, and regulatory standards for shared helmet use are recommended.