Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Kenyan Rural Schools: Are Schools Meeting the Needs of Menstruating Girls?

Alexander, Kelly, Oduor, Clifford, Nyothach, Elizabeth, Laserson, Kayla, Amek, Nyaguara, Eleveld, Alie, Mason, Linda, Rheingans, Richard, Beynon, Caryl, Mohammed, Aisha, Ombok, Maurice, Obor, David, Odhiambo, Frank, Quick, Robert and Phillips-Howard, Penelope ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1018-116X (2014) 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Kenyan Rural Schools: Are Schools Meeting the Needs of Menstruating Girls?'. Water, Vol 6, Issue 5, pp. 1453-1466.

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Abstract

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs in African schools have received increased attention, particularly around the potential impact of poor menstrual hygiene management (MHM) on equity for girls’ education. This study was conducted prior to a menstrual feasibility study in rural Kenya, to examine current WASH in primary schools and the resources available for menstruating schoolgirls. Cross-sectional surveys were performed in 62 primary schools during unannounced visits. Of these, 60% had handwashing water, 13% had washing water in latrines for menstruating girls, and 2% had soap. Latrines were structurally sound and 16% were clean. Most schools (84%) had separate latrines for girls, but the majority (77%) had no lock. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supported WASH in 76% of schools. Schools receiving WASH interventions were more likely to have: cleaner latrines (Risk Ratio (RR) 1.5; 95% Confidence Intervals [CI] 1.0, 2.1), handwashing facilities (RR 1.6, CI 1.1, 2.5), handwashing water (RR 2.7; CI 1.4, 5.2), and water in girls’ latrines (RR 4.0; CI 1.4, 11.6). Schools continue to lack essential WASH facilities for menstruating girls. While external support for school WASH interventions improved MHM quality, the impact of these contributions remains insufficient. Further support is required to meet international recommendations for healthy, gender-equitable schools.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Treatment and Human Health
Subjects:	WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General) WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 309 Women's health WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WA Public Health > Sanitation. Environmental Control > General Sanitation and Environmental Control > WA 670 General works WP Gynecology > WP 20 Research (General) WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 450 Puberty WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 460 Adolescence (General)
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3390/w6051453
Depositing User:	Lynn Roberts-Maloney
Date Deposited:	29 May 2015 08:45
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2019 14:16
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/5169

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