Handwashing refers to the process of cleaning the hands with water, a detergent such as soap, or an antiseptic solution. The term hand hygiene is a catch-all term that refers to hand-cleaning activities, such as hand washing, hand antisepsis, or the use of an alcohol-based hand rub. World Handwashing Day (GHD) is a campaign to motivate and mobilize millions of people around the world to wash their hands with soap. Raise awareness of the soap handwashing campaign as a key approach to disease prevention. During the annual World Water Week 2008, World Handwashing Day was proposed, which was held in Stockholm from 17 to 23 August 2008 and was initiated by the Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (PPPHW) . On 15 October 2008, World Handwashing Day took place for the first time in accordance with the year 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation as a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly. Using soap to wash your hands is the most effective and economical means of preventing diarrhea and its spread. Handwashing with soap has been found to decrease the risk of diarrhea by 42-47%, and half of all foodborne illnesses could be reduced or eliminated through proper handwashing. Lives can be saved by washing hands before eating and after using the toilet rather than using vaccines or medical interventions which result in stopping a quarter to half of deaths due to diarrhea and acute respiratory infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that "it is also well documented that one of the most important measures to prevent the spread of pathogens is hand washing." A key factor in preventing the transmission of colds, diarrhea and influenza viruses, which is considered a social problem... middle of paper... that people exaggerate the extent to which they wash their hands; that women are much more likely to wash their hands than men. Handwashing compliance appears to have increased in recent years, but there is still plenty of room for growth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), failure to wash or under-wash hands contributes to nearly 50% of all foodborne illness outbreaks. Also Curtis. and Cairn Cross (2003) performed a meta-analysis suggesting that handwashing with soap can reduce diarrheal disease risks by more than 40% and that handwashing interventions could save 1 million lives each year . However, no one knows why people don't wash their hands at recommended rates and in the correct way. This research attempted to establish predictors of handwashing that can be used to induce a higher rate of handwashing adherence .