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

Water

Kelly T. Alexander⁵  Clifford Oduor¹  Elizabeth Nyothach¹  Kayla F. Laserson¹  Nyaguara Amek¹  Alie Eleveld⁷  Linda Mason⁵  Richard Rheingans⁴  Caryl Beynon⁶  Aisha Mohammed²  Maurice Ombok¹  David Obor¹  Frank Odhiambo¹  Robert Quick³ 

[1] Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu 1578-40100, Kenya; E-Mails:;Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi 10100, Kenya; E-Mail:;Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Environmental & Global Health and the Centre for African Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; E-Mail:;Child and Reproductive Health, Department of Clinical Studies, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; E-Mails:;Center for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2ET, UK; E-Mail:;Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu 40100, Kenya; E-Mail:

关键词: school;    education;    children;    water sanitation and hygiene;    NGOs;    Africa;    Kenya;    menstruation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w6051453

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.