A General Practitioner with Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, Dr Safiya Ojo, on Monday, recommended the use of water for anal cleansing rather than toilet paper after defecation.
Ojo said in Abuja that it was important to have a hygienic means of cleaning the anus for overall body hygiene.
She said: “It is better to wash with water than use toilet paper after defecation because water washes completely without a trace, whereas toilet paper might not wash completely or properly.
“The paper particles can attach to the surroundings of the anus which can bring discomfort, while water washes off everything, leaving you clean and fresh.’’
The doctor said westernisation had lured many people into using toilet paper, adding that water allowed for thorough cleaning.
She said it was important to wash the hands with soap after defecation and after almost every activity for good hygiene.
Ojo also recommended the use of warm water to clean infants and toddlers, saying most wipes which mothers used to clean their babies after defecation could give the children rash due to the chemicals in the wipes.
