INTRODUCTION

Barbering and beauty operations are imposing dangers on our health and the categories of population venerable to this dangers are the children and men who visit barbering shop regularly for their hair cut. Protecting these innocent ones from infection from such places should be our number one priority across the continent.

Having been interrogating, studying and observing the operation of some of the barbers across the country Ghana, I have realized that most of them do not have knowledge about cross contamination of their operations and at the same time do not know how to properly disinfect or sterilize their barbering tools.

Due to lack of education and inadequate knowledge on the above, the following improper operations are carried out indeliberatly which can easily lead to cross contamination:

1. Some of the barbers dilute the 70% acohol use for disinfection in other to get more and reduce cost. By so doing, the rather end up reducing the efficiency of the disinfectant.
2. Some of the sterilizer machines are not functioning but they put in their tools just to deceive the customers.
3. Some replace the ultraviolent (uv) bulb with any ordinary bulb after the bulb dies off without knowing that UV has a a role to play in the sterilization processes.
4. Barbering tools like combs, brushes and sometimes clippers are not sterilized at all before using hence creating opportunity for fungal, viral and bacterial transmissions.
5. Most do not know the different type of disinfectants available for sterilization of the instruments.

These and many improper operations causing dangers on our health since we rely greatly on beauticians.

Recent research report published from Georgia, California, Texas, Mississippi and Los Angeles indicate that 12 MR SA(Methycillin Resistant Staphylococcus aures) infection per 1000 person a year recorded but recent potential spread of viral blood borne diseas through barbering and beauty salon operations are Hepatitis B and C  and HIV AIDS and also bacteria skin infection such as impetigo or Cutaneous  abscesses, pimples lesions are added to the list.

Again a journal published on the 28^th Febuary, 2012 by S.C Enemour from University of Nigeria, Nusuka, Department of Microbiology, A.R Atabo from Kogi state UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Nigeria and O.O Guntibeju from Cape Penisula University of technology, Department of biomedical science, Suth Africa has shown that after taking swap sample of barbering tools and using standard method of culturing and isolation, the following were the bacteria and fungi species: Enterococcus species, Staphylococcus epidermidis, enterobacterium species, Perculum species, Rhizopus species and Mucor species.

This research has also indicated that a lot of bacteria, fungi ,viral and other conditions like purulent conjunctivitis, herpes, shingles and even chicken pox are transmitted through barbering operations.

Preliminary research conducted by Vision for Africa foundation on topic: Assessing the quality of barbering operation to enhance safety and protection of customers from contamination also revealed that most of the barbers do not understand sterilization process and therefore do not properly sterilize their equipment before using and after used. This suggest that this poor sterilization of their barbering tools could lead to majority of cross contaminations and hence there is a need to embark on further research and intensive health education on the barbering operation to prevent infection.

References

1. Scientific Research and Essay vol/7(a) PP 1100-1102 9^th March, 2012.
2. AESSS publications, 2011 page 62
3. Anderson G, Palombo (2009). Microbial contamination
4. Verger C(2004) Infections risk Associated with blood exposure for traditional barbers and their customers in Morocco, Sante.
5. Ibrahim MT, Opera WE, Tanimowo T(2007) Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, infection, prevention practices and accidental skincutin barbering salon in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Chanda SK, Khan KH(2004) sharing of razor blade in saloons and risk  of spreading HIV in Bangledesh. Poster exhibition. The 3^rd IAS.